RAK magazine November 2017

raisingarizonakids.com NOVEMBER 2017

PUMPKIN TREATS! FUN FAMILY RECIPES FROM URBAN COOKIES OWNERS ARIZONA AUTHOR

TOM LEVEEN ON THE BRAVE, NEW WORLD OF YOUNG-ADULT MEDIA

ARIZONA’S CHILDREN

Can’t foster or adopt?

Other ways to make a difference

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FUN FAMILY

DINING

DESTINATIONS

Mom’s secret. $12

Mac® 99 Big Bundle

At participating McDonald’s. McPick 2 and other offers excluded from delivery. Delivery prices may be higher than at restaurants. UberEATS booking fee applies. See the UberEATS app for details. © 2017 McDonald’s raisingarizonakids.com NOVEMBER 2017

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November 2017

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES 12

Pumpkin Season Treats

Family-favorite recipes from Shaun and Brady Breese, owners of Urban Cookies in Phoenix (and parents to sons Charlie and Oliver).

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Arizona’s Children: Many Ways to Make a Difference Can’t foster or adopt? There are plenty of other ways to help Arizona’s foster children and families.

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YA Reasons Why

Arizona YA author Tom Leveen on the brave new world of young-adult media.

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Hacienda Healthcare

For 50 years, a “home for the angels”

DEPARTMENTS 4

dialogue

Finding a place to learn and thrive

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• Birth to 5 Q&A • Are you ready for some skiing?

• Our “heart healty” winner • 18 fun family dining destinations • Furry friends from Gabriel’s Angels

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family time!

• Top November events • Around Arizona • Run, walk or cycle • Onstage • Veterans Day

COVER PHOTO SHOOT: copy here

PHOTOS BY RICK D’ELIA.

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Nutcracker The

Chandler Center for the Arts | Nov 24-Dec 3 | $25, $29 Mesa Arts Center | Dec 8-17 | $25, $29

2017/2018 Season Cinddella Founding Artistic Director - Sharon Seder Meko

Chandler Center for the Arts | April 28-29 | $16, $22

Tickets: balletetudes.net | “Ballet Etudes...turning out stars-to-be.� - The Arizona Republic

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dialogue

November 2017 | Vol 28 | No 8

“I thought it was so helpful to have all of those resources all in one place.”

Publisher Karen Davis Barr Editor Kara G. Morrison

“Great event. It was especially nice that it wasn’t overcrowded, so we got quality one-on-one time to speak with vendors.”

Calendar Editor Liz Petroff Copy Editor Debra Citron Staff Writers Margaret Beardsley, Dani Horn

“Please have these every year.”

Contributors Debra Citron,

“Thank you for offering parents the opportunity to learn about their options all in one place!”

Karen Fernau, Sheri Smith Art Director Michèlle-Renée Adams Photographers Rick D’Elia, Allen Patrou

Finding a place to LEARN and THRIVE THESE ARE COMMENTS from families who attended last year’s inaugural Education Fair AZ. The idea behind this R aising Arizona Kids annual event is that parents in metro Phoenix needed one place to go to start their search for the best schools for their children.

That search can feel overwhelming in an era of more and more charter schools, private options and public schools offering a myriad of specialty programs that start as early as kindergarten. Simply looking at a website is no way of knowing whether your child is going to fit into the culture of a school or meet a teacher who may have a lasting impact.

We hope Education Fair AZ is a great first step to seeing what’s out there and identifying programs that match your child’s interests and strengths.

Along with the positive comments, we heard some concerns about last year’s event — particularly about our choice of venue. The cost of parking downtown and the challenge of navigating the massive Phoenix Convention Center created frustration for some families who attended. We listened to that, and moved this free event for families to the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in central Phoenix, right off the 51, just north of Glendale Avenue and 16th Street.

Representatives from up to 75 Valley schools and education support organizations

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Operations Manager Tina Gerami-Bynum Sales & Marketing Manager Brandy Collet Sales Representatives

will be there to answer your questions about open enrollment, finding the right school fit, affording private school tuition, getting help for a child who’s struggling and much more.

Drop in anytime from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4. Thanks to the Phoenix Zoo, we’ve got an added surprise for the kids: a prehistoric guest from the new Dinos in the Desert exhibit. You’ll also have a chance to win a zoo membership and other great prizes.

Nothing puts parents at ease more than knowing their children are thriving in the right learning environment. We hope you’ll join us!

Education Fair AZ is one of dozens of fall events we are previewing during this month of Thanksgiving. In the spirit of gratitude and giving back, this issue also shares ways we all can help improve the lives of kids in foster care. Contributor Debra Citron offers a thought-provoking interview with Arizona YA author Tom Leveen and Publisher Karen Barr shares the remarkable story and legacy of the woman behind Hacienda Healthcare, established 50 years ago this fall.

Kara G. Morrison, Editor kara@RAKmagazine.com

Shannon Cornall, Kate Greene

Contact Us: editorial@RAKmagazine.com familytime@RAKmagazine.com advertising@RAKmagazine.com subscriptions@RAKmagazine.com 5229 N. Seventh Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85013-1974 P: 480–991–KIDS (5437) • F: 480–991–5460 raisingarizonakids.com

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R aising A rizona K ids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copy­right © 2017 by R aising A rizona K ids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $20 for one year or $35 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy.

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BIRTH TO 5 Q&A: PHOENIX HEART BALL

BICYCLE CONTEST WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALEXA HELINSKI of Glendale, who won a child’s bike from the 2017 Phoenix Heart Ball Committee, which is working to promote awareness of a heart-healthy, lowstress family lifestyle. More than 40 other R aising Arizona Kids readers who submitted entries received a family pass for free admission to Halle Heart Children’s Museum in Tempe. Here are Helinski’s winning heart-health answers.

How do you promote heart health in your family? By eating a healthy, balanced diet.

We engage in physical activities that the whole family enjoys, including bike riding, walking, swimming, and playing! We visit our primary care physician on a regular basis to ensure that we are heart healthy.

How do you reduce stress in your family?

By taking time to listen to one another. We are always looking for fun activities to do as a family and find that staying active and learning are great stress reducers. Finding things we enjoy doing and experiencing new adventures as a family help to keep us connected. If we are stressed, we talk about it and make sure that the issue is addressed. We collaborate as a team to ensure that we are all working toward reducing whatever stressor may be present in that moment and take the time to evaluate what’s going well and what could be improved.

Founded in 1959, the Phoenix Heart Ball supports the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Over the past 58 years, the Phoenix Heart Ball has raised nearly $33 million to fund lifesaving research, vital community programs and Halle Heart Children’s Museum.

LEARN MORE about the Saturday, Nov. 18 Phoenix Heart Ball fundraiser at phoenixheartball.heart.org.

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ASSESSING CHILD CARE STAFF

Q: A:

As a parent, how can I assess the skills of teachers at a child care center?

Several key factors speak to the skill level of teachers in an early childhood program or child care setting. Some you can ask about; others can be observed.

Questions you might want to ask include: • What are the qualifications of the director and teachers?

• How are families kept informed about their child’s progress?

• How do you deal with challenging behaviors? (Look for teachers who communicate with and redirect a child, then communicating with the family — rather than giving “time outs” or using other punitive measures.)

Don’t be afraid to ask the director of a program if you can observe or even have your child participate while you observe. This will give you a better idea of the skills a teacher brings to the classroom. Look to see if the

teacher is at eye level with the children when they are interacting and watch to see if he/she makes eye contact and listens to children when they are talking. You should also watch how children interact and play together. Look around to see if books, toys and other materials are within children’s reach to encourage learning.

When you’re seeking an appropriate early childhood environment, one resource to consult is the Quality First website (qualityfirstaz.com).

It helps parents find quality-rated centers and certified day care homes in their area. The site also offers a free downloadable checklist that can help guide your decision.

Quality First is a program of First Things First, a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten.

Katie Romero is the assistant director of professional development and training and the program manager for the Quality First program at Southwest Human Development, which operates a Birth to Five Helpline staffed by early-childhood specialists. 877-705-KIDS (5437).

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SNOW? ARIZONA SNOWBOWL PLANS to open for the ski season on Friday, Nov. 10.

Resort staff fired up snow guns in late September, allowing Snowbowl to claim the honor of being the season’s first U.S. ski area to make snow. While the area typically receives about 260 inches of natural snow each year, manmade snow offers consistency on the trails and guarantees a season from November to early April.

New at Snowbowl this year: The Hart Prairie beginner area has a new, fixed-grip quad chairlift to replace the former double-person lift and Slopeside Dining, a new restaurant, offers 300 indoor seats and an outdoor patio with a fire pit.

Located at 9,5000-feet elevation on the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, Snowbowl has 40 trails, eight lifts, two terrain parks and two mountain lodges. Professional instruction is available for skiers and boarders of all levels. SKIWee and MiniRider Packages include two- or four-hour lessons, lift tickets and rental equipment.

New-season pricing had not been posted as of press time. The resort website indicated there would not be an increase in price for this year’s season tickets. 928-779-1951 or arizonasnowbowl.com

PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Explore Our Newest Small, Specialty High Schools!

GIFTED & TALENTED ACADEMY GTacademy.org 602.764.2016 For students who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude or competence.

PHOENIX UNION WILSON COLLEGE PREP WilsonCollegePrep.org 602.764.9600 The first school in the world to provide the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) College Readiness System to ALL students.

PHOENIX CODING ACADEMY PhoenixCodingAcademy.org 602.764.5700

Students learn computer science skills such as software development, including game design, web and app development, networking, information security and robotics.

Linda Abril • Alhambra • Bioscience • Bostrom • Trevor Browne • Camelback • Central Cesar Chavez • Desiderata • Betty Fairfax • Franklin • Gifted & Talented • Carl Hayden Maryvale • Metro Tech • Montessori • North • Phoenix Coding • South Mountain • Wilson

raisingarizonakids.com NOVEMBER 2017

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Furry friends from

GABRIEL’S ANGELS

are helping foster stronger readers

By Dani Horn STUDENTS AT HUMPHREY Elementary in Chandler were among the first to try the new Animals, Books and Children program — ABC for short — by Gabriel’s Angels, a local nonprofit that offers healing pet therapy for at-risk kids.

ABC pairs kids with a pet-therapy team for fun and furry reading sessions that help improve children’s literacy skills and social engagement.

The Chandler students got a weekly visit from Hank the Labrador Retriever and Yankee Doodle, a Golden Doodle.

“They are both so incredible with the children, because there’s just naturally a good connection there between dogs and kids,” says Stephanie Shuey, student services coordinator at the Chandler school. “And [the kids] get so excited to see them. Once they started the program, I’ve had students come up to me almost daily to ask, ‘When do we get to go read again?’ ” Gabriel’s Angels’ traditional pet therapy caters to groups of 10-12 children and focuses

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on caring and empathetic interactions with the dogs, including petting, bathing and feeding.

The ABC program offers individual literacy sessions that give kids a comfortable and nonjudgmental setting for improving reading skills.

Nearly 40 percent of at-risk fourth graders read below fundamental levels, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Development. Gabriel’s Angels works with 15,000 Arizona kids annually through crisis nurseries, domestic violence shelters, group homes and after-school programs, so its volunteers were uniquely positioned to help young readers.

“We did a pilot program back in late fall of 2016 where we worked with a couple of Title I schools,” says Michele Shipitofsky, chief development officer of Gabriel’s Angels. “It’s a 20-minute session, once a week, and usually we see three or four kids for that session. So each child gets that one-on-one time with the pet therapy team to read to the dog.”

Shipitofsky says the ABC program uses standardized testing, so coordinators can see

A volunteer assists a young boy as he reads to a toy collie from Gabriel’s Angels.

direct results in reading improvement. Each pet therapy team consists of a dog and its owner, who uses a “doggy first” language designed to make kids feel more at ease while reading.

“They are taught our curriculum, so it’s our specific books and our specific language on how to interact with the children,” says Shipitofsky, explaining how the pet therapist will say things like: “Fluffy didn’t really understand how you said that word. Can you try that word again for her?”

“It’s a difference in the approach rather than just telling the child to do it again,” she explains. “The idea is to always have positive reinforcement ... because we want them to feel accomplished and to make strong strides.”

Staff writer Dani Horn is the mother of Victoria (11) and Remy (8).

ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE

ARIZONA PRIVATE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Reading to a dog awaiting adoption at the Arizona Animal Welfare League.

Since 1998, we’ve awarded tuition scholarships to thousands of K-12 students attending Arizona private schools thanks to individual and corporate donations.

READING WITH FIDO GABRIEL’S ANGELS

These Valley nonprofits offer programs that encourage literacy as children read to pets.

ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE 15 N. 40th Place, Phoenix 602-273- 6852 • aawl.org/cyo The Create Your Own program offers kids the opportunity to read with a furry friend as one of AAWL’s many animal interaction activities. Ages 5-12 can read to dogs, ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas and more with adult supervision. Kids can bring their own books or read one provided. Cost is $120 per group of 10 kids and 10 chaperones.

ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY 1521 W. Dobbins Road, Phoenix 602-997-7585 • azhumane.org/reading-fur-fun Kids ages 8-11 can sign up for monthly reading sessions with dogs who are awaiting adoption. This program is aimed at promoting both literacy skills and social skills in the dogs before they go to their forever homes. Kids are encouraged to dress up like their story book characters and can bring their own books to read or choose one AHS provides.

GABRIEL’S ANGELS 727 E. Bethany Home Road, Suite C-100, Phoenix 602-266-0875 • gabrielsangels.org The new Animals, Books and Children program pairs kids with a pet-therapy team (dog and owner) for fun and furry reading sessions that help improve children’s literacy skills and social engagement. The program is for first through third grades at Title I schools.

PAWS 2 READ Valleywide • paws2read.org This nonprofit pet therapy program offers kids a chance to read with a variety of animals including cats, birds and even a pig. The program creates a non-judgmental environment for children to increase literacy skills, self-esteem and a love of reading. Several libraries across the Valley have partnered with Paws 2 Read for monthly, 90-minute sessions.

Donations qualify for a dollar-for-dollar credit on AZ income taxes.

Families apply one time per school year for tuition scholarships.

Scholarships are awarded monthly.

We partner with 100+ private schools in AZ.

APPLY OR DONATE @

apesf.org (480) 699-8911

A.R.S. § 43-1089 NOTICE: A school tuition organization cannot award, restrict or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of donor recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent.

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18 FUN FAMILY

DINING DESTINATIONS

By Dani Horn

WHEN THE WEEKEND finally rolls around, most families are eager to spend some quality time together after long days at the office and non-stop school-year schedules. Dining out fits the bill. But it’s not always easy. Kids quickly get bored waiting for their food when faced with the standard in restaurant entertainment: three crayons and an activity sheet.

For parents trying to unwind, a relaxing dinner out can turn into yet another exhausting exercise in juggling and negotiating.

It’s surprising how few restaurants thoughtfully consider how to host younger diners. Still, we found more than a dozen that surpass “the usual” by offering everything from toys and video games to full play areas to keep kids entertained — and parents relaxed. Here are 18 restaurants the whole family will enjoy.

Arcadia Tavern 4801 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 602-840-3950 • facebook.com/arcadiatavern Kids can play video games while parents take in a college football game at this casual sports bar. A Microsoft XBox, a Nintendo Wii and a few iPads are available to keep kids entertained. Ages 12 and younger eat free on Mondays.

Barro’s Pizza 2485 E. Baseline Road, Suite 158, Phoenix 602-268-4200 • barrospizza.com At this Phoenix location, young kids can play in the restaurant’s pretend kitchen area. There are also Duplo blocks, quarter prize machines and a flat-screen TV tuned to Disney Jr.

Brat Haus 3622 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-947-4006 • brathausaz.com A large shaded patio with wooden picnic tables is where patrons eat and kids can play lawn games such as giant Jenga, ping-pong, darts and bean-bag toss. Grown-ups

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Servers bring cotton candy with the check at Rustler’s Rooste in south Phoenix. can enjoy one of 28 craft beers on tap. This restaurant is dog-friendly, too, so feel free to bring Fido.

Chestnut Fine Foods and Provisions 4350 E. Camelback Road, Suite I-100, Phoenix 602-708-7679 • chestnutaz.com This Phoenix breakfast and lunch spot boasts a small play area with with a kid-size table and a basket full of toys.

Dillon’s at Wildlife World Zoo 16335 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park 623-535-4249 • dillonsrestaurant.com Featuring Kansas-City-style barbecue and a familyfriendly atmosphere, this Dillon’s location offers tables with shark-tank views inside or patio tables that overlook a flamingo habitat.

El Encanto Mexican Restaurant 6248 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-1752 • elencantorestaurants.com Diners are seated next to a scenic pond where turtles, ducks and blue heron make their home. Kids can feed and interact with the ducks or take selfies with the turtles. El Encanto recently opened a fourth location at OdySea in the Desert.

Fuddrucker’s Valleywide • fuddruckers.com Locations in Phoenix, Glendale and Tempe feature an arcade game area. Kids can try their luck at claw machines, seated racing games, stand-up arcade games and quarter prize machines while they wait for their burgers.

In Tempe, there is a huge outdoor playground for kids. The climber is shaped like a boat with three big sails and parksized slides. This restaurant often brings in a balloon artist to make swords, hats and other creations for kids.

Joe’s Real BBQ 301 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 480-503-3805 • joesrealbbq.com.

Kids can run around or play cornhole on a grassy outdoor lawn next to air-conditioned patio tables. This country-style barbecue joint also has an antique John Deere tractor on display that kids will love.

Luci’s at the Orchard 7100 N. 12th St., Phoenix 602-633-2442 • lucisorchard.com The large outdoor patio and lawn space that’s part of this converted ranch-style home features a mini splash pad.

Kids can splash and play or chill out on the grass at this fast-casual restaurant with indoor or outdoor seating.

Moms and dads can shop Luci’s Marketplace or have a cocktail at Pomelo bar.

O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery 10810 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 126, Phoenix 602-900-9003 • ohsobrewery.com At O.H.S.O.’s Paradise Valley location, kids can play a variety of yard games on the outdoor patio, including table tennis, foosball and cornhole. This restaurant is also dog-friendly.

Ollie Vaughn’s Kitchen and Bakery Joe’s Crab Shack 1606 W. Baseline Road, Tempe 480-345-0972 • joescrabshack.com

1526 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix 602-254-1392 • ollievaughns.com Little kids can enjoy the small wooden playhouse with plastic

flower boxes and baskets of plastic food that can be cooked up on a pretend stove as kiddos talk on a play phone.

FACEBOOK.COM/RUSTLERSROOSTE

Postino Wine Cafe 302 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 480-632-6363 • postinowinecafe.com At the Gilbert location of this popular Valley chain, kids can play in an outdoor green space that features bocci ball and giant Jenga games.

THERE IS NO UNIVERSAL TEACHING CODE THAT UNLOCKS EVERY MIND.

Rustler’s Rooste 8383 S. 48th St., Phoenix 602-431-6474 • rustlersrooste.com Kids (and grown-ups, too) can slide down a large tin slide into the Western-themed dining room. The restaurant regularly features live country music and a roaming magician, and servers bring cotton candy with the check. All ages will enjoy the sweeping panoramic views of the desert and city lights. Ages 12 and younger can join the Kidz Slide Rider Club for $6 and eat free all year with a paid adult entrée.

Swirl It Froyo 1397 E. Williams Field Road, Suite 104, Gilbert 480-917-9475 • swirlitfroyo.com The Gilbert location boasts an XBox Kinect for kids and teens to play, plus board games and puzzles.

OUR TEACHERS WILL HELP DISCOVER YOUR CHILD’S UNIQUE LEARNING COMBINATION. New Way Academy is an accredited K–12 school for students who learn differently. Small class sizes and on-campus therapists empower education, while our large campus with sports, performing arts and after-school activities promotes building friendships and learning outside the classroom.

LEARN MORE AT OUR OPEN HOUSE:

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 • 9–11 AM 5048 E Oak Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 | T: 602 389 8600 | NewWayAcademy.org

The Perch Brewery 232 S. Wall St., Chandler 480-773-7688 • perchpubbrewery.com Kids can interact with more than 50 different tropical birds and parrots the restaurant saved from abuse, abandonment or neglect. This rooftop brewery/lush garden also offers beautiful panoramic views of downtown Chandler.

The Teapot 818 N. Fifth Ave., Phoenix 623-522-6027 • theteapotus.com The downtown Phoenix yard of this converted historic home is a play space for ages 8 and younger, including a playhouse with slide, a mini rock wall and wooden patio tables for parents. Kids can play with various push-pedal cars and other toys; a $2 play fee is added for ages 1-8.

The Watershed 5350 S. Lakeshore Drive, Tempe 480-756-0508 • watershedaz.com The only lake-house restaurant in the Valley features cooking from scratch, a contemporary twist on American classics and boat rides ($5; free for ages 5 and younger).

Staff writer Dani Horn is the mother of Victoria (11) and Remy (8).

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Shaun and Brady Breese, owners of Urban Cookies in Phoenix, create the chocolate base for Pumpkin White Chocolate S’mores with help from sons Oliver (8) and Charlie (4).

PUMPKIN SEASON TREATS

Urban Cookies owners offer three recipes families can craft together

By Karen Fernau | Photos by Rick D’Elia

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PUMPKIN ONCE WAS known almost exclusively as a pie for Thanksgiving. Today, this multi-tasking squash with its dense, sweet flesh defines the flavor of fall. Pumpkin and its aromatic companion spices show up in smoothies, soups, granola, cookies, donuts and stews.

“Pumpkin is to Thanksgiving what peppermint is to Christmas. It’s everywhere because, frankly, people just can’t get enough of pumpkin anything,” said Shaun Breese, co-owner with her husband Brady of Urban Cookies, a central Phoenix bakery well stocked with pumpkin donuts, cupcakes and bread, many gluten-free and vegan.

Starbucks deserves some credit for launching the modern-day craze with the release in 2003 of its pumpkin spice latte. Nearly 15 years later, our infatuation with pumpkins shows no signs of turning into a pumpkin at midnight. Pumpkin-flavored products have grown to a business worth nearly $360 million a year, according to Nielsen.

Popularity aside, pumpkins are both versatile and healthy. They are low in calories and loaded with vitamins and beta-carotene — a muscular antioxidant that may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and offer protection against asthma. Pumpkin’s abundance of fiber, potassium and vitamin C also makes it good for the heart. Even

the traditional spice flavorings — cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice — fall into the good-for-you category. Cinnamon works as a blood sugar stabilizer, ginger an antiinflammatory, nutmeg as a digestive aid, allspice as an antioxidant and cloves for arthritis relief.

To Brady, it’s this spice combo, not the squash, that gives pumpkin its signature flavor.

“The spices really bring out the best in pumpkins,” said Brady, a self-taught baker. “The pumpkin craze would not be what it is today without them.”

That’s why Brady recommends using the freshest spices possible. Spices lose their flavor, so the ground cinnamon from last year might be a tad bland. As a general rule, spices should be replaced every six months to a year. Whole spices last up to three years.

Brady and Shaun, college sweethearts who opened Urban Cookies in 2005, are both bakers and parents. They know first-hand what kids at the Thanksgiving table want to eat for dessert, and often it’s not traditional pumpkin pie. This holiday, they suggest two kid-friendly alternatives — s’mores and mousse — developed with help from sons Oliver, 8, and Charlie, 4.

“These are desserts that kids and adults can make and enjoy together at Thanksgiving or, really, anytime,” said Brady, whose specialty is baking desserts that look as good as they taste.

In 2011, Brady and his baking partner, Salvador Garcia, won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network for four camera-friendly, flavorpacked cupcakes, including Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese.

Like at Urban Cookies, Brady’s Thanksgiving creations are made with allnatural ingredients. The s’mores show off his whimsical touch, the mousse his ability to lighten up tradition.

Using fresh-roasted pumpkin flesh is always the best choice, but if short of time, canned pumpkin runs a close second. (Smaller pumpkins, often called sugar pumpkins, are best for cooking, yielding sweeter and more tender flesh than the very large pumpkins.)

After more than a decade of reigning popularity, pumpkin mania shows no signs of weakening.

Pumpkin is no fad,” Shaun said. “It’s everywhere and here to stay.”

Karen Fernau is a longtime journalist and former food writer at The Arizona Republic.

RECIPES FROM URBAN COOKIES 2325 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-451-4335 or urbancookies.com

S’mores with Pumpkin White Chocolate Ganache PUMPKIN SYRUP • ½ cup sugar • ½ cup maple syrup • ½ cup canned pumpkin • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¼ teaspoon ground clove • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger • ¼ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • ¼ cup water

WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE • 8 ounces white chocolate • 2 tablespoons heavy cream • 2 tablespoons butter

• graham crackers • large marshmallows

Begin by making the pumpkin syrup. In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a slow boil on medium high for three minutes. Cool at room temperature overnight.

Place the white chocolate, heavy cream and butter in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 10 seconds at a time, stirring ingredients in between until the white chocolate and butter start to melt.

Stir mixture until smooth, keeping in mind it will look separated. Add ½ cup of the pumpkin syrup and whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth. Cool in a refrigerator or at room temperature. Ganache should be the consistency of peanut butter.

To assemble, smear desired amount of pumpkin white chocolate ganache on the inside of each graham cracker. Add a toasted marshmallow in between and sprinkle edges with festive toppings such as fall leaf sprinkles. Serves 8.

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Pumpkin Mousse in Mason Jars PUMPKIN MOUSSE • 2½ cups plus 6 tablespoons pumpkin puree (about 1½ 15-oz. cans) • 3 cups heavy cream, divided • 1 cup dark brown sugar • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon ground clove • 1 teaspoon ground ginger • 1½ teaspoons salt • 1 tablespoon maple syrup • 2 tablespoons spiced rum (optional)

GRAHAM CRUMB • 1 sleeve of graham crackers • ¼ cup dark brown sugar

• ¼ cup melted butter

In a saucepan, combine pumpkin, 1 cup of the heavy cream, brown sugar, spices, salt and maple syrup. Simmer on medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes. Cool overnight in the refrigerator.

Process graham crackers, brown sugar and melted butter in a food processor (or place graham crackers in a zip bag and crush with your hand or a rolling pin). Add the crushed graham crackers to a bowl with the brown sugar and melted butter and stir until the crumb is fully incorporated.

Whip the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream and spiced rum to firm peaks. In a mixing bowl, add the pumpkin mixture from the refrigerator. In a three-step process, fold whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture. Use 8 petite 4-ounce mason jars. Add 2 tablespoons of graham crumb to the bottom of each jar and top with the mousse until the jar is full.

The mousse can be topped with a simple sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or fresh whipped cream. Serves 8.

PUMPKIN EVERY WHICH WAY Here are a few other quick ways to enjoy pumpkin all month.

PUMPKIN SOUP: Stir 28 ounces of fresh or canned pumpkin puree, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, ½ cup heavy cream and 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice in a large stock pan.

Heat on medium high, stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes or until warm. Makes 4 servings.

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE: Combine 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 large ripe banana, 1 cup unsweetened soy or coconut milk, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice and 4-5 ice cubes (optional) in a blender. Blend until smooth. Makes 2 smoothies.

PUMPKIN SEEDS: Cut the lid off a pumpkin with a sharp, serrated knife. Place seeds in a colander. Pull fiber from seeds and rinse until free of any pulp. Dry seeds with paper towels.

Lightly coat with olive oil and season with salt.

Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, moving seeds occasionally to roast both sides.

Remove when golden brown.

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PUMPKIN PUREE FROM SCRATCH: Smaller sugar pumpkins are best for cooking. Select pumpkins free of blemishes, harvested with their stems intact, that feel heavy for their size. Look for a dull finish to the skin. (Shiny skin indicates it was picked too soon.) Pumpkins can be refrigerated for up to three months.

Leftover cooked pumpkin can be frozen up to 16 months. There are two simple ways to turn pumpkin flesh into puree. When cutting pumpkins, use a serrated knife and a sawing motion.

TO STEAM: Cut pumpkin in half and, using a spoon and clean hands, remove the seeds, pulp and stringy flesh. Cut into small pieces and remove peel. Place in a steamer over boiling water, cover and steam for nearly 50 minutes, or until tender. Allow to cool slightly before pureeing in a blender or food processor.

TO ROAST: Cut the pumpkin in quarters and use a large spoon to remove the seeds, pulp and stringy flesh. Place the pumpkin quarters in a baking dish. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan to prevent the pumpkin from drying out. Cover pan with a lid or foil. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes. Allow pumpkin pieces to cool slightly and scoop out flesh. Puree in a blender or food processor.

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ARIZONA’S CHILDREN MANY WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By Sheri Smith

Chris Paulley enjoys making Play-Doh sculptures with a NOVEMBER child at Child Arizona in Mesa.

2017 Crisis raisingarizonakids .com

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It really does take a village. For this fifth installment in a six-part yearlong series about Arizona’s foster care crisis, we explore ways to support the nearly 17,000 kids in state care — even if you can’t foster or adopt.

the park, a game of catch in the yard, a quick story before bedtime.

It doesn’t take much to make children happy. But as Torrie Taj, CEO of Child Crisis Arizona explains, “Not all children have a safe, secure home, and some do not enjoy the joys of childhood as we know it.”

Sometimes children must be removed from their homes for their own safety. Nearly 17,000 Arizona children find themselves in this situation.

Placed in the hands of friends or family members through kinship care, or with strangers through foster care, these kids yearn for the same love, attention and security that all children need.

Throughout 2017, RAK has featured stories on the foster care crisis in Arizona.

We have looked at how fostering and adopting children can be a lifechanging and deeply rewarding experience. Realistically, not everyone can take this momentous step.

Fortunately, there are many other ways to help that have great impact.

BE A MENTOR Laura Pahules, executive director at Arizonans for Children, says there is a great need for mentors. At her organization alone, 114 kids are on the waiting list.

Mentors — who commit to spending eight hours per month with a school-age child for at least a year — “take kids out into the community and help them with life lessons on basic skills such as how to navigate public transportation, how to count change and how to tip,” Pahules says.

The special attention kids get through time with a mentor can make a big difference and is often reflected in improved grades at school, better attendance rates and higher self-esteem.

Arizonans for Children also provides after-school classes in cooking, sewing, dance, art, woodworking, financial literacy and STEM. Volunteers are needed to serve as teachers in this coursework at Phoenix and Mesa locations. Financial support is also needed and appreciated.

Arizonans for Children 1112 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix 1020 N. Horne, Mesa 480-838-0085 • arizonansforchildren.org

BE A LEGAL ADVOCATE

RICK D’ELIA

Perhaps no one plays a bigger role in bringing positive change to the lives of vulnerable foster children than a CASA, or Court-Appointed Special Advocate.

Guardian ad litem Bill Owsley, a legal advocate for foster children

An Arizonans for Children mentor posted this photo of time she spent over yogurt and painting with her young mentee. Because of confidentiality rules, no faces can be shown of children in foster care.

in the courtroom, says the state of Arizona desperately needs more volunteers serving in this capacity.

“CASAs have more contact with the kids than anyone,” he explains.

“They advocate for the child and become the eyes and ears for the court.”

A CASA’s first job is to listen. CASAs get to know everyone in a child’s life, from the parents and relatives, to foster parents and teachers, to medical professionals and attorneys, to social workers and more.

CASAs try to understand how a child is feeling and what his or her desires might be. Once they have gathered all the pertinent information, CASAs help to inform judges and others who are making decisions about permanent placement for the child.

You do not have to be a lawyer or a social worker to become a CASA. If you care about children and are willing to use good, common sense on their behalf, you are qualified. To become a CASA you must pass a background check, undergo an interview, participate in a 30-hour training course and agree to stay on a case until it is closed (usually about a year and a half).

Allison Hurtado, outreach specialist for CASA of Arizona, says there are about 1,000 active CASAs in Arizona. Since each can take only one or two cases at a time, most children in out-of-home care do not have CASAs. Being a CASA is “fulfilling because you get to stick with it until the situation is resolved,” Hurtado says. Being part of “getting children to a place where they are in a secure and loving environment can be a truly life-changing experience.”

CASA of Arizona 602-452-3654 • azcourts.gov/casa/volunteer

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FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/AZ4CHILDREN

THE JOYS OF CHILDHOOD are simple — a ride on the swings at

RICK D’ELIA

Brett MacLay affixes a swing to the ceiling as his wife Becki holds their 18-month-old foster son. Their 20-monthold foster daughter waves from the slide.

BECOME A RESPITE CARE PROVIDER Foster- and kinship-care families have a multitude of responsibilities.

With doctor’s visits, court dates, visitation appointments and more, it’s hard to find time for anything else.

“You don’t realize how great a need is until you’re in the middle of it,” says Chandler grandmother Kelly Ray, who provides kinship care to her four grandchildren. “The hardest part is not having anyone else to support with this. …Since I’ve had them, I’ve only had one day and one full night [to myself].”

As a respite-care provider, you can give foster families the precious gift of regenerative time away from all-encompassing responsibilities. You help the children and the wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to them. Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health offers respite care and trains volunteers, in addition to providing many other foster-care services.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Respite 6439 E. Eugie Terrace, Scottsdale 480-634-2028 • devereuxaz.org

VOLUNTEER AT AN EMERGENCY SHELTER When foster or kinship care placement cannot be made quickly enough, children are often taken in by emergency shelters, such as Child Crisis Arizona. These facilities are always in need of volunteers to rock babies, cuddle toddlers or play games with preschoolers.

Volunteer positions usually require a one-year weekly commitment

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of time. The age requirement to volunteer at the shelter is 16. For younger volunteers, there are opportunities with the VIP Kids Club to plan parties and help in other ways. One-day group volunteer opportunities can be great team-builders for churches, businesses or other organizations. Monetary contributions and donations of children’s items are also greatly appreciated.

Child Crisis Arizona 480-834-9424 • childcrisisaz.org

SUPPORT ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CARE “Most children come into foster care with little more than the clothes on their back or what they can carry in a trash bag,” according to Kris Jacober, executive director at Arizona Friends of Foster Care.

Foster parents, too, are often lacking in resources. Providing the basic necessities for a child’s survival is sometimes about as much as these families can muster. “We pay for things for kids in foster care that the state doesn’t pay for,” Jacober explains.

The organization provides funding to make sure foster kids experience normal childhood activities like summer camps, sports teams, swim lessons and even tickets to theme parks.

Since 1984, the organization has awarded more than $7 million to more than 32,500 children. It receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of donors and volunteers.

Arizona Friends of Foster Care 1645 E. Missouri Ave., Suite 450, Phoenix 602-737-2676 • affcf.org

A 4-year-old receives her first bicycle from Arizona Helping Hands.

DONATE TO ARIZONA HELPING HANDS

Arizona Helping Hands 7850 E. Gelding Drive, Suite 500, Scottsdale 480-889-0604 • azhelpinghands.org

CONTRIBUTE TO HELEN’S HOPE CHEST Helen’s Hope Chest is a place where foster families can bring kids to “shop” for things they need. Set up like a boutique, the space offers a wide variety of clothing, shoes, books, hygiene items and more.

But unlike a store, the items are available to foster kids for free.

Families just call and make an appointment to take the kids on a “shopping spree.” Children are suddenly allowed to make their own choices, which builds self-esteem and helps them to bond with the adults in their lives.

Katie Pompay, executive director of Helen’s Hope Chest, puts it this way: “You don’t think about shopping when you don’t have food or a home. We want to let these kids know they can think about those things, because they’re safe now. We let them know that whatever they pick out here, it’s theirs to keep. It gives them a bit of their identity back.”

Helen’s Hope Chest — which serves about 650 children per month, and this year alone provided 1,600 backpacks with school supplies — always needs donations, especially gently used or new clothing items and shoes. Elementary school-age boys clothing is in high demand. Drop items at the north side of the building. Financial donations also are appreciated.

FACEBOOK.COM/AZHELPINGHANDS

Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of basic needs to foster families. According to Dan Shufelt, the nonprofit’s president and CEO, the organization’s core service is providing beds.

“We have already provided over 3,000 kids’ beds and cribs to foster homes,” he says. The goal is “to make kids lives as normal as possible.”

Arizona Helping Hands also provides personal items, diapers and toiletries. Another signature program is “Dream Kits for Foster Kids.”

Foster parents fill out an online application — for a toy, a book or whatever they feel will make a child’s birthday special — and Arizona Helping Hands works to make those wishes come true.

“Every package is decorated in a special way that shows somebody cared about them,” says Shufelt. “We want them to know that their lives are worthy of celebration.”

Find a list of what’s needed on the organization’s website or Facebook page. All donations should be new items with the exception of gently used children’s clothing. Drop off donations at any Mattress Firm store or at the Arizona Helping Hands warehouse, which is located in the Scottsdale Airpark. Volunteers and monetary donations are always appreciated.

VOLUNTEER WITH CHILDREN’S HEART GALLERY As you scroll through The Children’s Heart Gallery, the faces of children become etched in your mind. These are the children who qualify for adoption but for whom permanent placement has not been found.

Owned and operated by Arizona’s Department of Child Safety, the mission of The Children’s Heart Gallery is to “use the power of photography to capture each child’s unique spirit and story in profile.”

Janine Ramirez, adoption specialist with DCS, says volunteer photographers are always needed. Hairdressers and makeup artists can help with weekend photo shoots, where they bring out children’s unique personalities and make them feel like celebrities for a day.

Volunteer guides take children to various stations for “spa treatments” and help gather information to create individualized profiles and biographies. Guides also play games with the kids and help them make photo frames for their portraits. To volunteer, visit the Children’s Heart Gallery website and fill out the “Volunteer Interest Form.”

The Children’s Heart Gallery 877-543-7633 • childrensheartgallery.org Freelance writer Sheri Smith, of Scottsdale, is the mother of Aidan (17) and Sarah (13). This story is the fifth in a series she has undertaken this year about Arizona’s foster children.

Helen’s Hope Chest - Mesa United Way 126 E. University Drive, Mesa 480-834-2121 • mesaunitedway.org/helens-hope-chest

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YA

REASONS WHY

ARIZONA AUTHOR TOM LEVEEN ON THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF YOUNG-ADULT MEDIA

By Debra Citron

T

HE WORLD CAN BE A SCARY PLACE. As parents,

our job is to keep our kids safe and teach them to live in it successfully. This requires us to perform a dance not taught at Arthur Murray.

It’s one we learn as we go, and it involves a lot of fancy footwork — a complicated tango of leading and following, pushing and pulling, holding close and letting go. Some of the trickiest steps involve when and how much of the scary stuff to share. Does information encourage or inhibit behavior?

In spring 2017, Netflix released its dramatization of “13 Reasons Why,” a series based on Jay Asher’s award-winning 2007 young-adult novel about the people and events involved in a high school girl’s suicide.

Hannah Baker takes her life and leaves behind audio tapes detailing her struggles with lies, betrayal, bullying and rape.

The series is built on the solid bones of the book, but it adds muscle by greatly expanding the book’s timeline and backstory, and sprouts a few new appendages by seriously ratcheting up the drama and adding several new plot elements. The production (since extended for another season) was both praised and criticized.

I thought it would be helpful to discuss the issue — and the often dark themes of today’s YA literature — with someone who has tremendous experience in and perspective on it. A native Arizonan, Tom Leveen wrote his first story in second grade and has been writing and telling stories ever since. A frequent guest speaker and teacher, he is the author of eight highly praised young adult novels.

Leveen is a dad (to a 6-year-son and infant daughter), a former actor and theater director, and currently an early literacy specialist with Phoenix Public Library. He also writes “Spawn,” the comic book series, with Todd McFarlane, and has published adult fiction and nonfiction. His next YA novel, “Mercy Rule,” is being released by Sky Pony Press on Jan. 9, 2018.

ALECIA BROUWER

Young adult literature is intended for ages 13-18, and is characterized by the primacy of emotion as opposed to experience in confronting and solving problems. How did you come to write for this age group?

I write YA because I am fascinated by origin stories: How did Peter Parker become Spider-Man? How did Bruce Wayne become Batman?

And high school is exactly that. It’s the crucible that our culture puts young people through that will, for better or worse, often determine who they really are. Who asked whom to prom and why is a lot more interesting to me than “adulting.” Everything matters so much at that

age; getting a certain grade or winning a certain award or asking a certain person out. Remember how vital and critical it all seemed? I argue that adults ought not dismiss those things.

Give us your take on YA lit as an author and a parent. In your writing, do you feel like you have to take sides: kids vs. adults?

I do not feel a need to take sides in my novels. I write about good parents and bad parents, great adults and terrible adults, super kids and awful kids. That’s all part of crafting any story. I do often portray adults — and parents in particular — in distress. The parents I write about?

Those are largely true stories. Some of [the conversations] are verbatim.

Some of the parents in my books have issues ranging from clinical depression to just a simple “I do not know what to do with my kid” sort of attitude. Certainly they are not all villains, and I do find as I get older and my kids get older, I probably give adults and parents a little more sympathy.

Outside the novels, though, at school visits and such, I find myself frequently on the side of kids. I have met too many who have stories too similar to mine or those of my friends, who are being largely abandoned, neglected or outright forgotten by the adults in their lives, notably their parents. It’s frustrating and maddening every time I hear another horror story by a kid who would rather stay on campus all day than go home and face what’s happening there: drug addiction, alcohol abuse or sheer loneliness.

Now that I’m a parent of two, and most of my friends I grew up with are parents, we say, “I’m not going to do what was done to me.” A big part of changing how we raise our own kids will be passing down those books we read that made such a difference. I guarantee it.

My friends and I were deeply impacted by two teachers in high school who introduced us to all sorts of great literature, great theater — and trusted us with responsibilities. Many of us likely avoided jail time or worse as a result of two adults who cared, who listened and who let us express ourselves in writing, onstage, and backstage in the drama department.

Many YA books contain profanity, drugs, drinking, sex and other forms of rebellion. What do you say to parents who think YA lit will corrupt their kids?

They need to read more YA. But they have to step into their own teenage shoes first. Take a phenomenal book like “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, which critics wrongly said is “about date rape.” It’s not; it is about depression as a result of rape. No teen is going to read that

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MEET

TOM LEVEEN

Leveen will be speaking and signing books at Phoenix FanFest Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 11-12 at the Phoenix Convention Center. tomleveen.com

LEVEEN’S BOOKS INCLUDE: • “HELLWORLD,” Simon Pulse, 2017. Two teens return to the Arizona cave where each lost a parent five years before to look for clues.

• “SHACKLED,” Simon Pulse, 2015. Teen sees her kidnapped and presumed-dead friend, but no one believes her.

• “VIOLENT ENDS,” Simon Pulse, 2015. Seventeen YA authors write on a single theme — a high school shooter as remembered by his classmates/victims — in this collection edited by Shaun David Hutchinson.

• “RANDOM,” Simon Pulse, 2014.

A girl awaiting a court date for involvement in a cyberbullying death gets an unusual opportunity.

• “SICK,” Abrams, 2013. Winner of the Westchester Fiction Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award. High school misfits are pitted against a suddenly zombified student body.

• “MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRL,” Random House, 2013. A teen falls hard for an enigmatic girl who is way out of his league, but not in the way he imagines.

• “ZERO,” Random House, 2012.

With her scholarship and best friend gone, and her parents melting down, artist Zero feels like one until she meets a punk-rock musician. An American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association Best Book of 2013.

• “PARTY,” Random House, 2011. Eleven teen lives intersect dramatically at the big end-of-theschool-year party.

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LEVEEN’S YA RECOMMENDATIONS • “STARGIRL” by Jerry Spinelli. A teen is celebrated then suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different.

• “SPEAK” by Laurie Halse Anderson. A teen’s girl’s depression as a result of rape.

• “CUT” by Patricia McCormick.

Believing she is responsible for her brother’s illness, 15-year-old Callie begins a course of self-destruction.

• Anything written by Judy Blume.

• The “REDWALL” series by Brian Jacques. Peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats.

• Any of Christopher Pike’s YA horror novels.

“I would love to include all of my author friends here in Arizona, but there are far too many of them, and all are good, so please ask your librarian about YA authors who live in Arizona!” Leveen adds. “ If parents would like additional information on YA literature, I highly recommend checking out “Books That Don’t Bore ‘Em” by ASU English professor James Blasingame.”

book and go, “Hey, I should date-rape girls!” Not possible. No one will read “The Outsiders” and say, “Gangs are cool! I should stab someone!” YA authors and editors are fierce defenders of teenagers — with our time, our words, our money, everything. That’s more than many parents can say, I’m afraid.

Have you read or viewed “13 Reasons Why”? Are parents right to worry? Does it glamorize suicide?

I read “13 Reasons Why” when it first came out and thought it was a very good book. And no, parents are not right to be worried about any book their teen reads. YA saves lives, it does not take them. The sheer volume of emails, social media posts, and handwritten letters that YA authors have received in the past 20 years saying “This book saved my life” would flood a house floor to ceiling. “You saved my life” is not exaggeration; these books have impact, real-life impact, and I have yet to hear of a YA novel that led to someone’s death.

Furthermore, every YA author I have ever met — and I’ve met a bunch — takes [his/her] job very seriously when it comes to how teens will relate to their books. It is at once an honor, privilege, and responsibility, and every author I know takes it seriously.

The book did not glamorize suicide. I have not seen the series, so I can’t comment [specifically], but I somehow doubt it. I just can’t imagine a producer, writer, director, and entire cast and crew getting together and saying, “Say, you know what’s cool? Suicide.”

I read the book, then viewed the series. I agree the book did not glamorize suicide. The series did drastically turn up the emotional heat by changing and showing the act. Should parents differentiate between YA books and videos?

By and large, I say let them read anything, eventually. Censoring our kids’ reading isn’t helping them, but only each family can determine what’s appropriate and what’s not. But this idea of keeping books away from kids is unforgivable, utter nonsense! Why would a parent waste this golden opportunity to read a book with (or before) their kid and see what conversations come out of it?

As a parent, why toss away one single tool in your parenting toolkit?

It makes no sense. Take them to bookstores! Ask them which books look like they’d be interesting reads. Talk to the booksellers. They know their stuff. Take your teen to Changing Hands; they’ll sort it out for you.

Video is another thing entirely, though, because video — anything on a screen — impacts us differently than the written word. Anything [audio/visual] happening to us from about kindergarten through high school is going to be in our heads for the rest of our lives.

I do tend to think that policing our kids’ screen time is important, as well as what is on those screens. Back off the bad examples until later.

Much later, if possible. Instead, cram those brains full of books. But having said that, if watching “13 Reasons Why” together opens doors to talk, then do it!

And even having said that, if a parent wants to veto, let’s say, my novel, “Zero,” because of the sexual content, that’s fine. I 100 percent support a parent’s right to do that. But the sheer act of vetoing [any book] should itself open up a conversation; every time you say no, you have to be honest, authentic, and loving as you explain your reasons and concerns. Talk to your kids! Because if you don’t, someone else will.

Someone, somewhere, is going to put things into their head. Do you want to gamble on who that will be?

Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence in Education (and many more to come) See why Legacy continues to be the highest rated K-8 district in Arizona. www.legacytraditional.org

YA lit covers lots of territory in terms of genre and maturity level. Is there good and bad YA, or just a lot of variety?

There is “bad” YA in terms of quality of writing, perhaps, but that is so, so, so subjective as to be rendered a meaningless discussion. Some of my books are viscerally hated by some readers, and some readers have re-read those same books until the pages fell out. There’s simply no accounting for taste and opinion.

But in terms of good and bad for kids, I don’t think so; there really is just that much variety. Dr. James Blasingame at Arizona State University, who I think of as the Yoda of YA literature, says there is a book for every teenager, and I believe that. This is why we need trained librarians (and, you know, libraries) in our schools and communities. They make a huge, positive difference in the lives of teens.

It’s also important, I think, to understand the author’s intent when choosing a book. One of my YA author friends writes very, shall we say, “fluffy” romances. Those books are well-written, well-plotted, and a lot of fun to read. They are just different from a book like “Zero” or “Random,” where my style is to come out swinging and not pull any punches. I’m chasing a different theme than my friend is, and our styles reflect that. Sometimes you need a fluffy romance, sometimes you need zombies invading your high school.

Debra Citron of Phoenix is a writer and lifelong supporter of children’s literature and literacy.

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NOVEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

HACIENDA HEALTHCARE

For 50 YEARS, a

“HOME FOR THE ANGELS”

By Karen Davis Barr | Photos courtesy of Hacienda Healthcare Ilene Mae Butler had grown weary of life in the Midwest. She had run through a series of jobs and was fresh off a broken romance. It was time to start over.

She headed west — a young woman in the mid-1960s, all alone on a cross-country drive to California. She got as far as Arizona before her car broke down. She was out of options. She had to stay.

The mechanical problem with her Delta 88 Oldsmobile may have thwarted Butler’s plans but it set her on a path toward everything she really wanted: a home, a family and a calling. What started as an impetuous search for fulfillment and meaning in her own life became the heart of Hacienda Healthcare, a nonprofit organization that helps some of Arizona’s most profoundly challenged children and adults live with comfort, meaning and dignity in theirs.

In late September, the staff and families who make up Hacienda Healthcare celebrated its 50th anniversary. The gathering was emotional for some, with lots of laughter and hugs. It was a chance to reminisce, to compare stories and to pay tribute to Butler and many others who shared her compassion and vision.

THOSE WHO KNEW Butler describe her as a force of nature. She was strong-willed and determined. Her physical size — she was often the largest woman in the room — was a source of internal angst, but it created a confident and commanding presence.

“She wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” recalls her niece, Gerry Schwartz, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who recounts family stories of early affronts that may have contributed to her aunt’s feisty nature. Butler was the youngest of seven children whose position as “the baby” was disrupted when her parents adopted two younger children.

That didn’t sit well. And for some reason, in the aftermath of a childhood surgery to remove her tonsils, Butler started gaining weight that would contribute to medical challenges she struggled with throughout her life.

She attended public schools in Monroe, Michigan through 10th grade. Then there were short-lived jobs in Michigan, New Jersey and Illinois. “She couldn’t seem to find her place,” Schwartz says.

But when the pastor at Butler’s home church in Monroe urged her to take a job working at a home for physically and intellectually disabled children in Watertown, Wisconsin, something clicked.

“She always took the hardest ones,” the kids who were most difficult to work with, says Schwartz, who as a seventh-grader accompanied her aunt to work one day. A “really big boy, Randy, latched onto me, and wouldn’t let go,” she says. “It scared me to death.”

But her aunt took such episodes in stride and had an innate knack for managing them.

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Page 24: A portrait of Ilene May Butler by Arizona artist and Hacienda board president Tom Pomeroy. Above : A 1970 photo of Butler with Cindy. Below: A 1983 photo of Ilene with June, Lupe, Ronnie and Butler’s nephew Daryl during construction.

“She was just a plain, loving, ordinary person who fought for the underdog,” says Schwartz, who speculates that her aunt’s health and weight struggles gave her a deep empathy for people who had to live with circumstances they couldn’t control.

Butler’s decision to leave the Midwest came shortly after she and her boyfriend split up. Though bound for California sunshine, she settled for Arizona’s dry heat. She took a job at the Arizona State Hospital and moved into a mobile home in south Phoenix.

Butler must have missed the bustle and companionship of her large family. She wanted a family of her own, but had no marriage prospects.

She applied to be a foster parent, but was told single women couldn’t do that. Undaunted, she revised her request, offering to take children who had been institutionalized because of physical or developmental disabilities. In 1967, the state granted her custody of Cindy, a 2-year-old with hydrocephalus (fluid accumulation in the brain).

Cindy was a “beautiful little girl with blonde hair and big eyes,” Schwartz recalls. Cindy also had a very short life expectancy. But she and Butler quickly developed a tight bond. For two and a half years they went everywhere together.

Butler took in two more children with special needs — Ronnie and Lupe, whom she later would adopt. But when Cindy died (tragically, the day before her own adoption was formalized), Butler became convinced that it was her mission in life to provide a loving home for other children with profound disabilities.

Her neighbors protested, saying that she was using residential property to run a business. Butler turned to local attorney Steven Friedman for help. He helped her apply for an institutional license and incorporate as a 501(c)(3). The name she chose, Hacienda de los Angeles, means “home of the angels.”

Butler leased a larger home near 19th and Northern avenues. By then, she had 19 children in her care, plus 10 employees and numerous volunteers. Butler’s mom and dad came out from Michigan to help.

Her brother and a nephew joined the effort, too.

A member of Butler’s church donated six acres of land at 1402 E. South Mountain Ave. in Phoenix, and church members raised nearly $40,000 to begin construction of a stand-alone campus. In 1976, Butler, her staff and 35 children moved into this new, 8,000-square-foot home.

Fundraisers — including a 1983 private concert by the Beach Boys and the sale of items designed from the works of artist Ted DeGrazia — helped finance remaining expansion costs.

The history gets a little murky in the wake of those triumphs, but for some reason Butler decided to leave. Some speculate the decision was health-related. Others hint at management conflicts within a rapidly growing organization. Whatever the cause, Butler packed up her family and moved to Mississippi. In 1995, following complications from bariatric surgery, she died. She was 59. Ronnie and Lupe moved to a group home near extended family in Houston, where they still live.

BILL TIMMONS, the current CEO of Hacienda Healthcare, never met Ilene Butler. But he conducted extensive interviews — with Schwartz, Friedman and others — to prepare remarks for a 2011 dedication to her memory. Butler was “ahead of her time” in recognizing the importance of a home-like atmosphere to the quality of life these children deserved, he says. She “hated with a passion the labeling these kids received from others.”

Timmons is a social worker who used to work for the Arizona

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Animal therapy at Robinson Ranch.

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) in northern Arizona.

He would refer families to Hacienda when their needs could not be met in their home communities. In 1989, when he learned the organization was seeking new leadership, he applied.

“It was much more problematic than I expected,” Timmons recalls.

“There were financial irregularities. Client care was bad. DDD was trying to shut it down. I had to fire a lot of people.”

He kept only those willing to embrace the motto he lives by and displays above his desk: “Perfection is our goal. We’ll settle for excellence.” Following the management reboot, Hacienda stabilized and again began to grow.

In 1994, Los Niños Hospital opened in central Phoenix. It was the Valley’s first freestanding sub-acute children’s hospital and provided a needed transition point: Children who had stabilized after hospitalization elsewhere for a life-threatening condition could stay here while their parents learned to provide the medical care they would need at home.

In 2000, Maricopa County Health Services asked Hacienda to help with four medically fragile children who were stuck living in nursing homes for the elderly. “It was obviously not an ideal environment for them,” says Timmons.

Hacienda took in those children, and more. In 2004, a 58-bed skilled nursing facility opened at the South Mountain campus for infants, children, teens and young adults. And in 2015, a second subacute care facility, Hacienda Children’s Hospital, opened in Mesa.

The organization, renamed Hacienda Healthcare in 2006, now operates dozens of programs affecting the lives of more than 2,550 patients and their families each year. Among them are many “angels” who require lifelong care.

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FOR THE UNINITIATED, a visit to Hacienda Healthcare’s ICF-ID, or Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled, can be unsettling, at least initially. The residents — they’re often called “loved ones” by the staff — can be loud, their movements unpredictable. Or they can be eerily still.

After spending an afternoon in the ICF-ID, shadowing nurse Heather “Judith” Teaford, I quickly adjusted. Teaford, a Caribbean-born former model and proud grandmother of two, has an easy way about her. She takes things in stride, chats up the “kids” in her care (some are middle-aged) and seems to have a sixth sense about what they need.

These residents represent devastating, debilitating conditions with a wide range of causes — from the unpredictable and complicated nature of human genetics to the trauma of brain injury. The most heartbreaking cases, according to several staff members, are the babies and young children who were healthy and happy one day and then — because of physical abuse, an accident or a near drowning — were forever changed.

Many are in wheelchairs or hospital beds. They spend much of the day gathered in a central area with a big-screen TV on the wall (tuned to a country music channel the day I visited). Some have limbs that have atrophied or curled. Many are on feeding tubes or breathing support.

Numerous attendants sit with them, conversing cheerfully (even when the residents can’t respond), supervising small games or crafts and watching for any signs of discomfort or need.

Teaford is always on her feet, circulating around the unit. She dispenses medications, checks vital signs, updates charts. It’s an endless loop that becomes stressful only when she can’t quickly find relief for a resident who is ill or uncomfortable. She doesn’t mind the long hours (12-hour shifts, three days a week). She accepts the fact that sometimes she will miss a meal because she’s too busy to take a break.

“These kids, they’re my passion,” she says. “When I leave here [at the end of the day], I want to know I did my best for them. I want them happy, comfortable, feeling good.”

At first, she admits, “I didn’t know if I could make it. The population couldn’t talk to me. It was scary. So stressful. What do they want? What do I do?” She quickly learned to read facial expressions, to decipher sounds. It was like learning a different language.

Now she knows each resident’s preferences and peeves. “Some of the personalities are so strong!” she says. “I love that, it challenges us.”

Take Christina, whose room we visited. “If she does not like what she eats, it messes up her whole day,” Teaford told me. “When she has behavioral issues, I know exactly what’s going on. If she gets what she wants to eat, she’s very happy.” Sometimes Teaford stops on her way to work to bring Christina a meal from Taco Bell. “Her mother died recently,” Teaford explained. “She used to bring her Mexican food.”

I’LL NEVER FORGET how Tucson mom Tammy Stobel reacted when I asked if I could meet her son Logan, who lives at Hacienda. “I’m so touched that you want to meet him!” she exclaimed, the emotion in her voice conveying how rarely she hears that request.

As I walked through a newly installed automatic door at the entrance to the skilled nursing facility, I recognized Logan immediately. And not just because Tammy had sent me some pictures. Her son, who doctors once said would never walk, is “always on the move,” she says. When I saw a slender, handsome young man repeatedly walking out the door, then back in — a caregiver constantly at his side — I knew exactly who he was.

Stobel and Timmons had invited me to join a meeting that was

already in progress when I arrived. It was called a “180-day meeting” to discuss progress toward Logan’s Individual Support Plan, or ISP. A number of professionals and advocates were gathered around the table, including a care coordinator, a clinical coordinator, a social worker, a representative of DDD and another mom, a member of Hacienda’s Power of Loved Ones, or POLO, parent-support organization.

Teams like this meet throughout the year to keep tabs on the residents in care. The discussion is wide ranging: medical status, dietary needs, occupational and/or physical therapy, speech, mechanical supports and progress on these “active treatment” objectives.

“We don’t give up on anyone’s capacity to grow, learn and experience quality of life,” Timmons explained.

Some might wonder how much people like Logan, whose intellectual growth halted at the level of a 9-month-old, really benefit from concerted therapies like those he receives.

You don’t have to convince Stobel. She knows.

“He’s made so much progress,” Stobel says. “He interacts with peers.

He walks to the park [with an aide]. He walks indoors when it’s too warm outside. He gets music therapy, pet therapy … they really look ‘out of the box’ to help each and every loved one have a fulfilling life.”

Active treatment can be offered only in ICF-ID settings, which require a higher level of scrutiny to become state-certified than is required of the other option for aging members of the medically and intellectually challenged community: a medical group home. (Hacienda also operates several medical group homes.) Though smaller and less “institutional,” a medical group home cannot provide the same level of staffing, medical support or access to therapies that Logan needs.

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TWENTY-NINE YEARS ago, when she was pregnant with Logan, Stobel

Under the

HACIENDA UMBRELLA Hacienda Children’s Hospital, in Mesa, provides a bridge from

hospital to home when the immediate crisis has passed, but a child is not yet well enough to go home.

Hacienda Skilled Nursing Facility, in south Phoenix, provides

round-the-clock care to children and young adults (age 45 or younger) who require long-term, short-term, respite or palliative care tailored to meet their needs.

Hacienda’s Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF-ID) is also on the south Phoenix campus. It is

Arizona’s only private all-inclusive residential care facility for long-term, transition-to-home and short-term respite care.

A key component of the programming is “active treatment” designed to enrich the lives of residents and maximize each individual’s fullest developmental potential.

Los Niños Hospital, on Thomas Road in Phoenix, provides

families with an intimate, home-like setting in which they can focus on their child’s health and the hands-on training they will need to care for their child at home.

Hacienda Healthcare also provides home-based respiratory care, home-based nursing services, day treatment and training for adults and residential medical or nonmedical group homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A respite-care program provides families and caregivers with a short-term break from the 24/7 demands of caring for their loved ones. Hacienda also offers group-home living and pre-vocational/vocational training for young men and women diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Learn more at haciendainc.org

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and her husband visited Tucson and fell in love with the Sonoran Desert.

Little could she know they would return to Arizona years later, after raising their family in New York, because our state offered what they consider the best possible option for their son’s care.

“Logan is a very complex child,” Stobel says. “He has multiple congenital conditions and excessive medical needs.”

Logan was born with congenital heart defects that required open-heart surgery when he was 10 days old. He couldn’t eat, so a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) was inserted through his abdomen to deliver nutrients directly to his stomach. He had low muscle tone. A cleft palate. A fused kidney. Doctors said he would never walk, never talk, never eat by mouth.

What he didn’t have was a clear diagnosis. Without that, the family was in limbo. “If he’d been labeled cerebral palsy or Down syndrome it would have been different,” Stobel says. “It would have put us in touch with support groups, schools, therapies.”

It’s difficult to imagine how isolated Stobel must have felt during those first few years, or how stressful her existence.

“I was lost, locked in my home with a sick child,” she says. “It was my whole world. It was like being in a bubble — no internet [in those days], no books [about Logan’s condition], nothing. I used to sleep in my clothing every night. I never knew from minute to minute what it would be. Seizure? Heart failure? I was always ready to go.”

Logan lived at home well into his 20s, as Stobel and her husband raised three younger children who quickly learned to shrug off questions about their big brother (“Why is he in diapers?” “Why doesn’t he speak?”). “That’s just the way he is,” they would respond.

Despite the logistical difficulty, Logan went everywhere with his family — on vacations, trick-or-treating. “I learned more than I ever imagined how much strength I have,” Stobel says.

But she’s also realistic. Her other children are grown. She and her husband are getting older. “We felt it was more appropriate for him to be with peers in a more natural setting, to be independent instead of living with his parents,” she says.

After an exhaustive search, she and her husband found Hacienda. It offered just the right combination: a warm, home-like environment and 24-hour nursing care. Logan has been at Hacienda for a little over a year.

Stobel visits him nearly every Monday.

“He’s so happy,” she says. Logan delights in watching “The Lion King” movie, or listening to the sound of rocks rattling inside a homemade waterbottle shaker his mother brings from home. He is learning to brush his own teeth and shower. With the help of an aide, he can use an iPad. He can follow one-step directions.

For Logan, she says, Hacienda provides “one big, happy family. Everyone is giving my son high fives. Everyone knows his name, his allergies, what he can and can’t do. It’s not a dark place at the end of a rope. I feel totally comfortable with him in this wonderful atmosphere.”

IT IS EXACTLY what Ilene Butler wanted to provide for the children she welcomed into her home so many years ago. Largely through her own faith and fortitude, she got the ball rolling. As it picked up steam, others propelled her vision beyond what she ever imagined.

As her niece, Gerry Schwartz, scanned the crowd during the 50th anniversary celebration, she was clearly moved. “Ilene would be so proud,” she said softly.

Karen Davis Barr is the founder and publisher of R aising A rizona K ids and the mother of two adult sons.

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family time!

TOP NOVEMBER EVENTS

By Liz Petroff

November is a time to gather with family and friends. This month, festivals abound celebrating Arizona’s arts and culture. Grab your appetite and a light jacket (for those cool desert nights) and enjoy making family memories.

Find more extensive day-by-day event listings at raisingarizonakids.com/calendar

THROUGH NOV. 19 Madagascar: A Musical Adventure. Valley Youth Theatre brings this musical romp, based on the DreamWorks animated film, to the Herberger in downtown Phoenix. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo as they escape New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on the faraway island. Times vary Friday-Sunday. $17-$35. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-253-8188 ext. 307 or vyt.com

Education Fair AZ. Choosing the best school for your child can be overwhelming.

Let R aising A rizona K ids help at this second-annual drop-in event. Meet with representatives from about 75 private, public and charter schools. Learn about new resources, meet a surprise guest from the Phoenix Zoo and get a free copy of “Schools, etc.,” RAK’s annual directory of K-12 schools in greater Phoenix. Free.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix. educationfairaz.com Arizona Fall Fest. Show your Arizona pride at this family-friendly event celebrating all things local — shops, restaurants, entertainers and even Arizona-made wine, beer and spirits. Enjoy food samples, live entertainment, a home-team sports zone and a kids zone.

Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hance Park, 200 E. Moreland St., Phoenix. localfirstaz.com Herberger Theater Festival of the Arts. Celebrate the arts at this event featuring performances, dancing, live music, children’s activities, pet adoptions, food and vendors. All proceeds benefit the Herberger Theater’s Youth Outreach Program. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-254-7399 or herbergertheater.org Touch-A-Truck. Kids can spend the day in the driver’s seat of a firetruck, police cruiser, construction truck, helicopter and more. The Junior League of Phoenix hosts this hands-on event with opportunities to meet local men and women who build, protect and serve. Enjoy music, local mascots, educational games, bounce houses, slides, a rock wall, face painters, balloon artists and food trucks. $5; free for ages 2

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Education Fair AZ (Saturday, Nov. 4) at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.

and younger. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Horns-free hour for children with sensory special needs begins at 9 a.m. Aviano Community Park, 3975 E. Lockwood Drive, Phoenix. jlp.org Tempe Book Festival. The City of Tempe hosts this page-turning event that celebrates reading and writing by bringing together local authors, publishers and booksellers. Kids can enjoy storytime and performances. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road, Tempe. 480-350-5500 or tempe.gov Wild West Days Parade. Enjoy one of Arizona’s largest Western celebrations. Town merchants host mini events and activities. Don’t miss the 9 a.m. parade through downtown, plus bathtub races, pie-eating contests, gunfight reenactments, bullriding and animal races. Free. Times and locations vary. wildwestdayscavecreek.com

CASSANDRA TOMEI

SATURDAY, NOV. 4

Dia de los Muertos (Saturday-Sunday Nov. 4-5) at Desert Botanical Garden.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

FRIDAY-SUNDAY NOV. 10-12 Chiles and Chocolate Festival. Enjoy a sweet and spicy weekend at the Desert Botanical Garden. Enjoy samples from Arizona’s top chile and chocolate vendors plus live performances of Brazilian, Caribbean and Latin music and dance. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $24.95; $12.95 ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-481-8188 or dbg.org

Shemer Arizona Arts Festival. Kick off holiday shopping at this new two-day event to benefit the nonprofit Shemer Art Center in Arcadia. Shop dozens of Arizona artists’ one-of-a-kind works and see glass-blowing, flame-throwing and pottery demonstrations plus children’s art activities, live music, food and a silent auction. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Shemer Art Center, 5005 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-262-4727 or shemerartcenter.org Dia de los Muertos. All ages. Honor departed loved ones with an Ofrenda exhibition, Mexican food, mercado, live entertainment and activities. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $24.95; $12.95 ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org

SATURDAY, NOV. 11

Lego Star Wars Days. Legoland Discovery Center at Arizona Mills mall is celebrating all things Star Wars with themed build competitions, a Lego Darth Vader group build and more.

Star Wars costumes encouraged. $22 at the door; $16.50 online; $8 homeschoolers; free for ages 2 and younger. 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. arizona. legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

City of Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. This year’s annual event includes eight veteran Grand Marshals representing each era of military service from World War II to today and honors the contributions of local veterans.

The parade starts at Montebello Drive heading south on Central Avenue, turns east on Camelback Road, south on Seventh Street and ends at Indian School Road. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. phoenixveteransdayparade.org

SUNDAY, NOV. 5 National Doughnut Day. Glazed, powdered, chocolate or sprinkles?

We do-nut want you to forget that Sunday is National Doughnut Day. Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Concert. Arizona Musicfest is proud to showcase the state’s brightest young classical musicians in a concert that will delight, impress and entertain. 2 p.m. Sunday. $23.50.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix.

480-478-6000 or mim.org

AZ Children’s Business Fair (Saturday, Nov. 11) at Arcadia Park.

Kidstop Toy Expo. Kids and parents can do hands-on testing of some of the season’s hottest toys outside this longtime local store. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free. 6990 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-609-9012 or kidstoptoys.com Once Upon a Fall Ball. Be transported to a faraway land as the Children’s Museum of Phoenix hosts its annual fairytale ball. Meet and greet princesses and Prince Charming, dance, make a royal crown, get glitter tattoos and more. 6-9 p.m. $15-$20. 215 N. Seventh St. 602-2530501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org AZ Children’s Business Fair. This is a great place for kids to do some holiday shopping and learn about business from young entrepreneurs!

Explore 125 booths as kids sell everything from treats and cupcakes to picture frames, handmade cards, pottery, art and yes, even slime. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $25 per booth; free admission to attend. Arcadia Park, 3402 N. 56th St., Phoenix. azchildrensbusinessfair.com

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AZ CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOV. 4-5

TOP NOVEMBER EVENTS continued SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOV. 11-12

“Pompeii: The Exhibition” (Nov. 18-May 28) at Arizona Science Center.

ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER

Free Entrance Day at National Parks. The National Park Service offers free admission to more than 400 parks across the country this Veterans Day weekend. Arizona sites include the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Montezuma Castle in Camp Verde and many more. Remember: Fourth graders can also get a free annual National Parks pass through the Every Kid in a Park program. nps.gov

FRIDAY-SATURDAY NOV. 17-18 Front Porch Pickins is bringing its vintage market and car show to Turf Paradise. Enjoy antique and rusty treasures, items from local artisans, food trucks and more. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; car show is Sunday only. $10; free for ages 12 and younger. 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix. frontporchpickins.com

NOV. 18-MAY 28 “Pompeii: The Exhibition” at Arizona Science Center. Learn about life in Pompeii both before and after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius at the Arizona Science Center’s new immersive international exhibition. Pompeii was frozen in time for more than 1,700 years, preserved by the ash that destroyed it on Aug. 24, 79 A.D. The exhibit includes 200 artifacts from the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, including wall-sized frescoes, mosaics, sculptures, jewelry, statues and Roman coins that bring to life how Pompeii’s people lived, loved, worked, worshipped and celebrated. Experience a simulated volcanic eruption in a 4-D theater. Parental guidance is advised for a separate section (a replica of a Pompeii brothel) that is not suitable for all ages. $29.95; $22.95 ages 3-17; $7.95-$9.95 museum members; free for ages 2 and younger. Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-716-2000 or azscience.org

PHOENIX ZOO

Zoo Lights (Nov. 22-Jan. 14) at the Phoenix Zoo.

SATURDAY, NOV. 18 Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse! Our favorite mouse made his debut in “Steamboat Willie” at a premiere in New York City on Nov. 18, 1928.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, NOV. 18-19 Harvest Festival. Fall is in the air at this small-scale amusement park in downtown Phoenix. Kids will love hayrides, bounce houses, a petting zoo, train rides and more. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $10; $20 unlimited access to Harvest Festival and amusement park rides; discounts with a canned-food donation. Enchanted Island Amusement Park, 1202 W. Encanto Blvd. Phoenix. 602-254-1200 or enchantedisland.com

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NOV. 22-JAN. 14 ZooLights. The Valley’s brightest holiday tradition returns to the Phoenix Zoo. Millions of lights shine throughout the grounds, along with a three-story holiday tree, carousel and camel rides, lakeside music-in-motion shows, nightly snowfall and photos with Santa Claus. 5:30-10:30 p.m. nightly; snowfall begins at 7 p.m. $10.95-$19.95. Phoenix Zoo, 455 Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602-914-4333 or phoenixzoo.org

THURSDAY, NOV. 23 Happy Thanksgiving! RAK is thankful for our readers. Thank you for turning to our pages when you need resources, inspiration and ideas for family fun.

FACEBOOK.COM/PG/PJMASKSLIVE

PJ Masks Live! (Friday, Nov. 24) at Comerica Theatre.

FRIDAY, NOV. 24 “PJ Masks Live!” It’s time to be a superhero as Catboy, Owlette and Gekko try to save the day from sneaky villains Romeo, Night Ninja and Luna Girl. This live show includes plenty of leaping, flipping and climbing, along with everyone’s favorite music from the animated Disney Jr. show. 4 p.m. $35-$150. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-379-2800 or pjmaskslive.com Las Noches de las Luminarias (Nov 24-Dec 3) at Desert Botanical Garden.

Glendale Glitters Spectacular Weekend (Friday-Saturday Nov. 24-25) at Murphy Park.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, NOV 24-25

NOV. 24-DEC. 3 Las Noches de las Luminarias. Desert Botanical Garden comes to life with more than 8,000 luminarias, thousands of white twinkle lights and the sights and sounds of local entertainment ensembles. 5:30-9:30 p.m. select nights Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 8-30. $30; $12.50 ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and younger. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-4818188 or dbg.org

Glendale Glitters Spectacular Weekend. This holiday event kicks off when 16 blocks of downtown Glendale light up with 1.5 million twinkling lights. Enjoy holiday entertainment, food, crafts and horse-drawn carriage rides. 5-11 p.m. Glendale’s holiday display continues nightly through Jan. 6. Free. Murphy Park, 58th and Glendale avenues. 623-930-2299 or glendaleaz.com

Calendar Editor Liz Petroff of Phoenix is the mother of Jack (9) and Lucy (7). Send event info to liz@RAKmagazine.com.

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family time! around arizona

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SAHUARITAPECANFESTIVAL

Sahuarita Pecan Festival (Saturday, Nov. 11), south of Tucson.

FLAGSTAFF The North Pole Experience (Nov. 17-Dec. 28). Take the Candy Cane/ Snowball Express to Santa’s 400-yearold workshop, where you can assist the elves in toy making, tour the factory, get treats from the bakery and take photos with Santa. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. $39$55. The Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. 888-679-7268 or northpoleexperience.com

PAGE Lake Powell Hot Air Balloon Regatta (Nov. 2-5). Features balloon lift-off Friday-Sunday, street fair, and Saturday evening balloon glow. Times vary. Free.

Lake Powell Boulevard, Page. 928-6454310 or pageregatta.com

PRESCOTT Holiday Light Parade (Nov. 25). Floats, holiday music and Santa. After party at Mile High Middle School. 6-8 p.m. Free.

Streets surrounding Yavapai County Courthouse in downtown Prescott. 928443-5220 or prescottdowntown.com

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Wildlights and Animal Sights (Nov. 24-Dec. 30). The Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary is filled with festive holiday decorations, music, light displays and concessions. 6-9 p.m. $6; $4 members. 1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott. 928-778-4242 or heritageparkzoo.org

SAHUARITA Sahuarita Pecan Festival (Nov 11). Live entertainment, pecan pie contests, family-friendly activities, fun run, harvest demonstration, hayrides, games and more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

Green Valley Pecan Company, 1625 E. Sahuarita Road, Sahuarita. 520-3295790 or sahuaritapecanfestival.com

TOMBSTONE Christmas Tree Lighting (Nov. 24).

See the lighting of the Tombstone Christmas tree at Fifth and Allen streets.

5:30-8 p.m. Free. 520-457-9317 or tombstonechamber.com

NOVEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids raisingarizonakids .com .com

TUCSON All Souls Procession Weekend (Nov. 3-5). Community altars, exhibits and entertainment to celebrate the lives of loved ones and ancestors. Events include a children’s procession and All Souls Procession non-motorized parade. Times vary.

Free. Throughout downtown Tucson. allsoulsprocession.org Model Airplane Make ‘n Take (Nov. 4). Ages 5 and up (with an adult) can build snap-together airplanes to take home and view models made by experts from Sonoran Desert Model Builders.

1-2:30 p.m. $15.50; $9 ages 5-12; free for ages 4 and younger. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road, Tucson. 520-574-0462 or pimaair.org Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games (Nov. 3-5). Bagpipe bands, Scottish, Irish, Cornish and Welsh music, dancing, food, athletic competitions, vendors, storytelling and petting zoo. 6-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.

to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday. $16 ($14 with canned food donation); $6 ages 6-15; free for ages 5 and younger. Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave., Tucson. tucsoncelticfestival.org

WILLIAMS Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov 25). Light parade down historic Route 66, followed by a tree lighting ceremony. 6:30-8 p.m.

Free. Downtown Williams. 928-6350273 or experiencewilliams.com The Polar Express (Nov. 10-Jan. 6).

Magical train ride (with cookies and hot cocoa) based on the Chris Van Allsburg classic book. 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. departures; 3:30 p.m. on select dates. $41-$53; $31-$43 ages 2-16; packages available for meals and hotel stay. Grand Canyon Railway, 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams. 800222-6966 or thetrain.com

run, walk or cycle family time!

3TV Phoenix 10K/Half Marathon (Nov. 5). Arizona’s original road race founded

by Dr. Art Mollen, the 3TV Phoenix 10K has been named the Arizona state championship race for the 10K distance.

A wheelchair, team challenge, costume contest and kids dash are included, along with entertainment and a post-race celebration. 8 a.m. Sunday. $25. CityScape, Washington Street between Central and Second avenues. phoenix10k.com Cycle for Life (Nov. 11). Notre Dame Prep hosts the Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life charity ride through Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Phoenix and Carefree. Choose a 65-mile, 40-mile or 20-mile ride. 7 a.m.

Saturday. $150 fundraising minimum. Notre Dame Preparatory High School, 9701 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. fightcf.cff.org Sahuarita Pecan Classic/Nut Run (Nov. 11). Run through the pecan orchard and get a unique view of the farm under the fall trees. Ribbons to all participants. $15-$35. 8 a.m. Saturday. Green Valley Pecan Company, 1625 E. Sahuarita

Road, Sahuarita. 520-329-5790 or sahuaritapecanfestival.com.

Splash & Dash (Nov. 11). Jump in for a 4,000-meter 2,000-meter or 1000-meter swim-only race. 7:30 a.m. Saturday. $40.

Tempe Town Lake’s north event boat ramp. 4peaksracing.com Everyone Runs (Nov. 12). The Tucson Medical Center Veterans Day Half Marathon and 5K winds through the many hills of Tucson Mountain Park. 7 a.m. Sunday. $75. 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson. everyoneruns.net Shun the Sun Gilbert Marathon (Nov. 18). Help raise money to build shade structures and spread information about the types of skin cancer and their causes at this half marathon and 10K. 7:30 a.m. Saturday. $95. Higley High School, 4068 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. gilbertmarathon.org Pass Mountain Trail Runs (Nov. 18).

Features 50K, 25K, 10K and 5K runs on winding trails throughout Usery

Mountain Regional Park on the edge of the Goldfield Mountain Range. 7-9 a.m.

Saturday. $53-$95. Usery Mountain Regional Park, trailhead staging area, Mesa. aravaiparunning.com IronKids Arizona Fun Run (Nov. 18).

The UnitedHealthcare IronKids event offers young athletes ages 3-13 a chance to feel the excitement of competition in a 1-mile or half-mile run while enjoying the outdoors. 8:30 a.m. Saturday. $20.

Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. ironman.com Ironman 70.3 Arizona (Nov. 19).

The 2017 Ironman Arizona offers 40 qualifying slots for the 2018 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The flat, fast, spectator-friendly course is the most urban full-distance race in North America. 6:40-6:50 a.m.

Sunday. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. ironman.com

TURKEY TROTS

While the turkey is cooking, grab your shoes and hit the pavement for a pre-dinner workout at these Thanksgiving Day events.

Anthem Turkey Trot (Nov. 23). 5- or 10km run/walk and kids dash in the shadow of Daisy Mountain and Gavilan Peak. 8:30 a.m. Thursday. $10-$30. Anthem Community Center, 41130 N. Freedom Way. 4peaksracing.com ARP Thanksgiving Day Classic (Nov. 23). The Peoria Diamond Club, Arizona Road Racers and hundreds of runners participate in 10-mile and 5K runs and 1-mile fun run/ walk. 8 a.m. Thursday. $20-$50. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave. 602-9548341 or arizonaroadracers.com

FACEBOOK.COM/PEORIADIAMONDCLUB

Kingman Turkey Trot (Nov. 23). Run, walk, or race at the 9th annual Kingman Turkey Trot. Post-race ceremony and prizes. 8:30 a.m. Thursday. $30. Kingman Powerhouse Visitor Center, 120 W. Andy Devine Ave., Kingman. 937-304-9357 or gokingman.com Sedona Turkey Trot (Nov. 23). Sedona Running Company’s loop course on Soldier Pass Road. The Iron Turkey Challenge involves running (or walking) the entire race carrying your Thanksgiving turkey. 9 a.m. Thursday. $30-$45. Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road, Sedona. 928-282-6956 or sedonarunning.com

ARP Thanksgiving Day Classic (Saturday, Nov. 23) at Peoria Sports Complex.

Southwest Valley YMCA Thanksgiving Day Youth and Adult Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon (Nov. 23). Freddy’s presents this 14th annual race, with a large portion of the proceeds going to YMCA Strong Kids. 7 and 7:40 a.m. start times. $82-$100.

Southwest Valley Regional YMCA, 2919 N. Litchfield Road. trifamilyracing.com

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family time! onstage “The Under Water Bubble Show” (Friday, Nov. 10) at Mesa Arts Center.

students write original stories, and a panel of judges chooses the best to be made into puppet shows. 10 a.m. WednesdaySaturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $10; $7 ages 12 and younger. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org

Tomas and the Library Lady (Oct. 21-Nov. 12). Childsplay stages the story of Tomas, who loves stories. When he meets the Library Lady, his imagination takes off. 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.

Sunday. $23-$26, Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe.

480-350-2822 or childsplayaz.org Annie (Nov. 3-19). Leapin’ Lizards!

Our favorite redhead takes center stage in the musical based on the comic strip. Showtimes vary. $32. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

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DANCE So You Think You Can Dance (Nov. 12). See the Top 10 finalists from Season 14 perform favorite routines. 8 p.m. $40-$212. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-3792800 or comericatheatre.com

Uncommon Valor (Nov. 12).

Community band Salt River Brass celebrates the men and women of our armed services with a concert featuring Copland, Bernstein and Sousa. 3 p.m. Sunday. $17-$24. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

MAGIC Carnival of Illusion (Nov. 4 and 18).

Ages 8 and older. Step right up for a top-rated magical night. Travel through magical history with an international and vaudeville-inspired magic roadshow.

Times vary. $52. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

All Ensemble Fall Concert (Nov. 19). The Phoenix Youth Symphony is celebrating 65 years of educating young musicians and students.

Hear all ensembles at the annual fall performance. 3 p.m. $10; $5 ages 3-18. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-277-7013 or phoenixyouthsymphony.org

MUSIC Mariachi Vargas (Nov. 4). The Mariachi Festival features music by popular mariachi groups in a festive atmosphere. 7 p.m. $40-$90. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix.

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Young Musicians Fall Concert (Nov. 5) showcases some of Arizona’s brightest young classical musicians 2 p.m. $20. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-4228449 or azmusicfest.org.

NOVEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids raisingarizonakids .com .com

LECTURES National Geographic Live: Beauty and the Bizarre (Nov. 15). You won’t be disgusted; you’ll be astonished when you see how photographer Anand Varma creates dramatic, bizarre and unique images of our world’s smallest insect wonders. 7:30 p.m. $26-$40. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com

PUPPETS The Little Red Hen (Nov 1-Dec 3).

Will the Little Red Hen get the help he needs to get wheat made into bread?

This sing-along event shares a valuable message about helping each other.

10 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. $10; $7 ages 12 and younger. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org Imagine This! (Nov. 15-19). Stories written by kids for kids! Kenilworth School

The Under Water Bubble Show (Nov. 10). Follow Mr. B. as he travels to Bubblelandia, where seahorses, starfish and mermaids join his imaginary journey. 7 p.m. $26-46. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. 480782-2680 or chandlercenter.org and underwaterbubbleshow.com Annie Jr. (Nov. 10-19). Little orphan Annie charms everyone as she sets out to find her parents with the help of billionaire Oliver Warbucks and her lovable mutt, Sandy. 7 p.m. FridaySaturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $14.

Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 8355 W. Peoria Ave. 623-815-7930 or theaterworks.org Newsies (Nov. 15-Dec. 31). Extra, Extra! This high-energy musical is the perfect show for the whole family.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Sunday. $35-$85. Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. 602-254-2151 or phoenixtheatre.com Peter Pan (Nov. 17- Dec. 23). With a sprinkle of fairy dust, the Darling children begin a magical journey

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with Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday. (No matinees on Dec. 22-23). $15. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road. 480483-1664 or desertstages.org

We teach comfort & confidence

South Pacific (Nov. 24-Dec. 30). Get swept away this holiday season in one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most enduring stories. Times vary. $44-$98.

Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400 or azbroadwaytheatre.com

“Go Dog Go” (Nov. 25-Dec. 23) at Tempe Center for the Arts.

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Go, Dog. Go! (Nov. 25-Dec. 23). P.D. Eastman’s book comes to life in a musical dog party! Watch dogs with cars, a moonlit boat ride and a game of ball. Also included are a few life lessons and a lot of barking!

1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. $12-$30. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. 480-350-2822 or childsplayaz.org A Christmas Carol (Nov. 30-Dec. 23).

A heart-warming version of the Charles Dickens classic tale. Showtimes vary. $20-24. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. 480-497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com

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This year, host a party your guests will howl for with an animal-packed birthday party at the Arizona Humane Society.

Book Today! azhumane.org/birthdayparties

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family time! Veterans Day events

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Veterans Day at McCormickStillman Railroad Park.

Gathering of Legends (Saturday, Nov. 11) at Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum.

Veterans Day at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Nov. 10). Author and Army veteran Marc Raciti and his wife keynote the City of Scottsdale’s annual Veterans event. Raciti recounted his struggles with PTSD in an awardnominated book. Performance by the 108th Army Band. 3 p.m. Friday. Free. $2 train and carousel rides. McCormickStillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend, Scottsdale. 480-312-2312 or therailroadpark.com ASU Veterans Day Pow Wow (Nov. 11). All ages. Native American dancers, drum groups, food and vendors. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Free. Arizona State University West, 4701 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale. 602-543-5300 or outreach.asu.edu/west/pow-wow City of Phoenix Veterans Day Parade (Nov. 11). This year’s annual event includes eight veteran Grand Marshals representing each era of military service from World War II to today and honors

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COURTESY OFARIZONA WING COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE MUSEUM

Voices of Valor (Nov. 9). The Phoenix Boys Choir sings patriotic and popular songs. 6 p.m. Thursday. Free. Steele Indian School Park Memorial Hall, 300 E. Indian School Road. 602-264-5328 or phoenixboyschoir.org

the contributions of local veterans. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The parade starts at Montebello Drive heading south on Central Avenue, turns east on Camelback Road, south on Seventh Street and ends at Indian School Road. phoenixveteransdayparade.org East Valley Veterans Parade (Nov. 11). In partnership with the Honor and Remember Organization, this event offers marching bands, flyovers by historical military aircraft, military vehicles, WW II tanks, and the Fallen Soldier Memorial. 11 a.m. Saturday.

Free. Starts on North Center Street at Sixth Place in Mesa and travels south to First Avenue. 480-684-2324 or evvp.org.

NOVEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

Gathering of Legends (Nov. 11). Shake hands with heroes from WWII through today. Military aviation veterans will share their experiences. Tour exhibits and artifacts and get up close to some of the rarest airplanes in the world. 1-4 p.m. Friday. $15; $5 ages 5-12, free for ages 4 and younger. Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa. 480924-1940 or azcaf.org.

Campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale.

602-418-5771 or estrellamountain.edu/ vetfunrun

Veterans Day Fitness Fun Run & Pancake Breakfast (Nov. 11). Honor veterans and their families with a 5K fitness run/walk and breakfast. Bootcamp stations include timed sit-ups and pushups, ammo can lifts, tire flipping and more. 8-10 a.m. Saturday. Free. Estrella Mountain Community College, Avondale

Uncommon Valor (Nov. 12).

Community band Salt River Brass celebrates the the men and women of our armed services with a concert featuring Copland, Bernstein and Sousa.

3 p.m. Sunday. $17-$24. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. 480-644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com.

Veterans Day Gourd Dance (Nov. 11). Bring your favorite potluck dish to share during the break between dances.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0901 or pueblogrande.com.

Arizona’s best pediatric epilepsy care prevented the worst for Tyler Tyler’s mom never saw it coming.

One minute he was speaking normally, the next he was experiencing his first seizure. Diagnosed with a severe case of epilepsy, Tyler turned to the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s, home to Arizona’s only Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center. There, Tyler’s neurologists performed delicate neurosurgery to remove the part of his brain causing the worst of his seizures.

Today, five years later, Tyler enjoys the life of a strong and healthy 13-year-old.

Arizona’s best pediatric care, from routine to rare.

PhoenixChildrens.org