Learn what is included in a good dental care program for your dog from Tammy Ceroni. Dogs need dental care, too. Unfortunately, dental hygiene for dogs is sometimes overlooked. Many people seem to just expect dogs to have bad breath, and few people brush their dogs’ teeth frequently enough. Dental hygiene is just as important to your dog’s overall heath as things like nutrition, proper exercise and routine grooming. Help keep your dog healthy – pay attention to those pearly whites!

Tips – Tools – Products – Techniques How to Brush and Help your Dog Enjoy it!

Contact Bark Avenue Pet Supply to make reservations for this free seminar by calling 480-832-2510.

Customers looking to learn more pet food and supplements can contact the knowledgeable staff at Bark Avenue Pet Supply. The store is located at 3109 E McKellips Rd., Suite 104, Mesa, AZ. A map can be found at www.barkavepetsupply.com

Since blood has a shelf life of 42 days, donors will help patients throughout the most challenging time of the year to maintain our state’s blood supply. At the time of year when Arizona’s patient population is at its highest, blood donations are at the lowest. “We hope to encourage more blood donations while people are focused on the spirit of giving,” said Audrey Jennings, Executive Director for United Blood Services/Arizona. “The gift of life is the most important gift of all and doesn’t cost anything, except a little of your time.”

Visit www.BloodHero.com (sponsor code: see list below) to schedule your life saving appointment at an East Valley blood drive. You can also call 1-877-UBS-HERO (1-877-827-4376) toll free. All Dec. 18 – Jan 14 Donors will be thanked with a voucher for a ticket to the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open Golf Tournament.

Tuesday, December 27
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center 7:30am-3:30pm sponsor code: mercygilbert
Chandler Regional Medical Center 7:30am-3:30pm sponsor code: blooddrive
Banner Gateway Medical Center and MD Anderson 9am-1:30pm sponsor code: bgmc

Thursday, December 29
Town of Gilbert 830-11am 50 E Civic Center 130 -330pm 75 E Civic Center sponsor code: gilbert
Gilbert Hospital 7am-11am sponsor code: gilberter
Banner Ironwood Medical Center 10am-2pm sponsor code: bannerironwood

Bicycle prices have been slashed by 75 percent through Dec. 22, all items marked with a red dot are 25 percent off and all desktop computers prices have been reduced $20.

A wide variety of merchandise is offered at the surplus sales, including clothing and office furniture. The merchandise consists of surplus items from various City departments and unclaimed police evidence. Payment can be made by cash, credit card or check/debit card with photo identification. All sales are final without warranty or guarantee of any kind and there are no refunds. There are some City items also available for sale on eBay that are not part of the surplus sales.

Proceeds from the surplus sales and eBay sales benefit the City of Mesa General Fund. During the 10/11 fiscal year, those sales generated approximately $178,900 for that fund.

For more information, visit www.mesaaz.gov/surplussales or call (480) 644-2663.

Join Sunrise of Gilbert as we celebrate 30 years of Sunrise with an Ollie the Trolley Holiday Lights Tour in appreciation of our valued professional partners.

5:00 PM – Pre-boarding delectables and holiday beverages will be served in our Terrace Club neighborhood.

5:30 PM – All aboard for an unforgettable tour of the best holiday lights in the East Valley.

A new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Gilbert Police Blue Line of Love Charity is your ticket aboard Ollie the Trolley for you and one adult guest.

Seating is limited to the first 60 guests. RSVP by December 12th!

MESA, Ariz. (November 9, 2011) – East Valley Charities and Longbow Business Park & Golf Club are proud to present the 14th Annual Shootout for Sunshine, a golf event benefiting Sunshine Acres Children’s Home. Over the last 13 years, this celebration in support of Sunshine Acres has raised approximately $750,000.

Shootout for Sunshine will take place Friday, November 18th at Longbow Golf Club, located on East Longbow Parkway between Higley and Recker roads, just south of Red Mountain Freeway/Loop202 in North Mesa. In addition to the golf tournament there will be an awards presentation, dinner catered by The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix and an auction. The raffle item is a vacation to the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The package includes a two night stay at the resort, airfare for two and either lift tickets to Beaver Creek, round of golf or spa treatment for two. Winners need not be present to win. Tickets are one for $25 or five for $100.

Major sponsors for this year’s event include: Longbow Business Park & Golf Club as title sponsor; Community Footprints The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix as the platinum sponsor; MTV General Contractors as the gold sponsor; and Texas Roadhouse, Boeing, DPR Construction and as silver sponsors.

Sunshine Acres is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity organization which provides a loving, Christian home for 70 needy children. Rev. James and Vera Dingman opened Sunshine Acres in 1954 and since that time more than 1,600 children have made it their home. The home cares for children ages 5 to 18 who have been separated from their own parents for one reason or another and helps them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures. Ms. Dingman’s hope was to help each child become healthy, happy community citizens with a strong sense of spirituality and responsibility. Sunshine Acres receives no government support for the care of the children, rather it is supported by private donations.

“For the past 13 years, this event has been a key fundraiser as well as a way to celebrate with Sunshine Acres many loyal supporters,” said Tom Sitzman, chairman of East Valley Charities and event director for Shootout for Sunshine. “Since they receive no government funding, the generosity of caring individuals and compassionate companies through this event has helped us keep this loving community thriving in this tough economy.”

The 14th Annual Shootout for Sunshine Golf Tournament has two shotgun start times with the first at 7:30 a.m. and a second at 12:30 p.m. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. The event is a four-man scramble format. Lunch, catered by Texas Roadhouse, is provided to both morning and afternoon golfers between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The hole-in-one prize is a 2012 Ford Focus, sponsored by Berge Ford.

Following the golf tournament, the evening continues with a celebration at the exclusive Longbow Golf Club outdoor patio, including dinner by The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, music, silent and live auctions and a raffle. We are proud to again welcome our emcee, Kim Covington with 12News, to host our post event festivities. Registration/reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and auction at 7 p.m.

Many opportunities are available for sponsorship and participation in the Sunshine Days festivities. Sponsorship packages range from $250 to $10,000. Individual golf entry is $175 and a foursome can be purchased for $600. To obtain entry forms and more information about Shootout for Sunshine call Tom Sitzman at (480) 926.0352 or visit www.shootoutforsunshine.org.

About East Valley Charities
East Valley Charities is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. Its sole purpose is to raise needed funds for Sunshine Acres Children’s Home. Each member of East Valley Charities is a volunteer and there is no paid staff. For more information, call 480.926.0352 or visit www.shooutforsunshine.org

About Longbow Business Park & Golf Club
Longbow Business Park and Golf Club is developed and marketed by Daedalus Real Estate Advisors, LLC. Longbow Golf Club is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management Company of Scottsdale. For more information about Longbow Golf Club, visit www.longbowgolf.com or call 480.807.5400. For Longbow Business Park & Golf Club information, call 602.889.2323.

MCC students and volunteers will sort out and analyze 24 hours worth of regular and recycled campus trash, Friday, Nov. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will take place on the lawn north of the Theater Outback on the Southern and Dobson campus.

MCC’s Dumpster Dive is a fun event to educate the campus community on how to improve recycling processes and waste reduction at MCC. Results of past Dumpster Dives have saved money and made a significant impact on the recycling efforts at the college.

Last year, 385 bags of trash were evaluated during the event. This yielded 35 completely full bags, of what was really ‘trash’ after recyclables were pulled out, and 10 City curbside barrels filled with just cups, cans, bottles and plastic bottles that had been placed in the trash instead of being recycled. The cost to landfill these items is over $3300 and recycling would cost the College $0. In addition, 155 pounds of paper was pulled from the trash. Over a five day work week this totals 775 pounds of paper. The statistics show that this is a loss of over $2500 each year to the College by not recycling paper. In addition, 521 plastic bags were counted. It was concluded that 500 or so plastic bags are brought to campus every day and disposed of when most could be recycled at a grocery store drop off.

New this year, a MCC Freecycle event will happen during the 6th Annual Dumpster Dive on the Clock Tower Lawn from 7 am – 1 pm. Students and employees are encouraged to participate by bringing in functional items from home that they want to get rid of. The Freecycle event will allow others a chance to reuse various items like knick-knacks, clothing, pictures, toys/games, books, luggage, dishes, purses, sports gear, holiday items, tools and more. MCC already recycles but it is always better to REUSE.

Volunteers are still needed for the event. For more information about volunteer opportunities or the Dumpster Dive event contact recycle@mcmail.maricopa.edu.

About Mesa Community College
For more than forty-five years, Mesa Community College, has provided outstanding transfer, career and technical and service programs to the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. Our nationally recognized student outcomes assessment program testifies to the faculty’s commitment to more than 40,000 students who attend annually. Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community Colleges District.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is looking for an outstanding woman in business and is asking for nominations to name a business woman of the year at the second annual Business Woman of the Year Award Luncheon, sponsored by SanTan Learning Center.

Nominations should highlight a business woman who is actively involved in the Gilbert Chamber and the community, has achieved excellence in her chosen field, and who has demonstrated leadership, resourcefulness and creativity in her career. Nominations will be reviewed and an honoree will be selected by the Chamber’s What Women Want…In Business event committee with final review by the Board of Directors.

The second annual Business Woman of the Year Award Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 24th at the Elegante Conference Center in Gilbert, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The special event will honor all nominees and award this year’s winner. In addition to title sponsor SanTan Learning Center, the event is supported by National Bank of Arizona and SRP.

The Business Woman of the Year nomination form can be found on the Chamber’s website, www.gilbertaz.com, or can be requested by e-mail to marty@gilbertchamber.com. For additional information, contact Marty at (480) 926-6003. All nominations must be received by Monday, November 28th.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations and representing more than 51,700 employees. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

The community will come together next week at a special networking fundraiser organized by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce to benefit youth needing assistance with tuition for programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert.

Last year, the event raised more than $2,000 for the community club. San Tan Ford will sponsor the event again this year and hopes to raise even more money.

“This organization holds a special place in my heart as much of my youth was spent in my hometown Boys & Girls Club,” said Tim Hovik, General Manager and Owner at San Tan Ford.

Hovik said he still shares many lasting friendships with members of his championship-winning Boys & Girls Club basketball team.

The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert, 44 N. Oak Street, in Gilbert. General admission is $35; chamber member admission is $25 at the door or $20 with pre-registration. Lunch will be provided by Chick-fil-A of San Tan Village.

Raffle tickets are on sale now at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce for the prize drawing of a 42-inch flat screen, high-definition television. Each entry is $20 and the winner will be drawn and announced at the luncheon, although ticket holders need not be present to win. All proceeds of the raffle with directly benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Gilbert.

To register for the event or for more information, contact the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce at (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com. Raffle tickets may be purchased in-person at 119 N. Gilbert Road, Ste. 101, in Gilbert.

Additional event sponsors include International Minute Press of Gilbert and Newman Realty.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with more than 550 members ranging from home-based businesses to large corporations and representing more than 51,700 employees. The Chamber proactively serves as a business advocate to strengthen the business climate in Gilbert. To learn more about or join the Chamber, please contact (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

Don’t let the “Grease Grinch” spoil your holiday fun. While the idea of disposing of gallons of fryer oil may seem overwhelming, the City of Mesa is offering free recycling of it at one of these fire stations between Nov. 14, 2011 and Jan. 13, 2012:
• Fire Station 204 1426 S. Extension
• Fire Station 205 730 S. Greenfield
• Fire Station 209 7035 E. Southern
• Fire Station 212 2430 S. Ellsworth
• Fire Station 214 5950 E. Virginia

Once the fryer oil is collected, a recycler will turn the oil into biodiesel.

Because grease causes a majority of sanitary sewer blockages in houses, the following tips should be followed:
• Scrape food scraps, oil and grease from kitchen utensils and equipment into the trash before washing to help keep grease out of wash water.
• Use a paper towel to wipe up small amounts of cooking oil, such as meat drippings. Throw the paper towels in the trash.
• Never pour oil and grease down the drain, and avoid using hot water to wash the grease away.

For more information, visit www.mesaaz.gov/fire or contact City of Mesa Water Resources Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor David Gonzales at (480) 644-2484 or david.gonzales@mesaaz.gov.

This year’s theme is “Honoring Our Veterans and Military, One Parade at a Time” celebrating our freedom and our Veterans’ sacrifice. The parade has 111 entries. The Grand Marshal is James Symonds, United States Navy Rear Admiral Retired. The Army Marshal is John Blehm and the Marine Marshal is Bill Ebright. The parade will include the Arizona Fallen Soldiers Memorial banners. They are provided by Constitution Week USA and will be carried by Westwood High School Air Force JROTC, Hamilton High School Air Force JROTC, Dobson High School Air Force JROTC and Mesa High School Air Force JROTC.

Before the parade begins, Arizona’s State Historian, Marshall Trimble, will give a presentation on the main stage at 10:30 a.m. After the parade at 1 p.m., the Women’s Air Force Band (WAFB) will present a free concert in the south parking lot of the Mesa Arts Center. The WAFB, which was formed in the 1950s, is the only all-woman former military band still performing and traveling at their own expense to entertain active military, the general public and veterans at VA hospitals, retirement homes and other locations throughout the nation. There will also be a collection of historic military vehicles on display.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Center Street at Third Place and will travel south on Center Street to First Avenue. At 9:30 a.m., Center Street will close between Main Street and University Drive and First Street will close between Macdonald and Centennial Way. At 10 a.m., Center Street will be closed between Broadway and Main Street while maintaining northbound local access to Second Avenue while First Avenue will be closed between Macdonald and Sirrine. Also at 10 a.m., Main Street will close between Country Club and Mesa Drive. However, local access will be maintained between Country Club and Macdonald and between Mesa Drive and Sirrine. All streets should reopen to traffic by 1 p.m.

The City of Mesa will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. The closure includes libraries and recreation centers. Trash and recycle barrels will be on the normal collection schedule. Residents should have their containers out no later than 6 a.m. The Mesa Arts Center Administration Offices will be closed. However, Mesa Contemporary Arts and the theatres will be open. The Arizona Museum for Youth will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Arizona Museum of Natural History will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veterans will be admitted free to both museums with identification. The Dobson Ranch and Riverview golf courses will be open. All bus and light rail routes will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.