May: By Nikki Evensen Little Blue Choo Choo: Starting with a grandchild’s love for Thomas the Train, Little Blue Choo Choo has grown into a wonderland of unique and imaginative toys. Peggy Burgess, owner and grandma of 10, wanted her specialty toy store to have everything her little ones desired, and now your child can share in the happiness as well. Burgess opened her first store in Scottsdale in 2005 and expanded into Dana Park late last year. Since its grand opening in November 2007, Little Blue Choo Choo has set high standards of providing every customer not just with a toy that a child will love, but a toy that will last a lifetime. Coming from places all over the world, such as Germany or Australia, these toys are made for quality, not quantity, which makes them even more special. “We have such unique toys, all with great quality,” says Brandy Lindstrom, store manager and mom. “You’ll get more than your money’s worth.” Education is equally important to imagination at Little Blue Choo Choo. Along with stuffed animals and Radio Flyers, there are endless puzzles, magnetic construction sets and developmental toddler toys to keep kids’ brains growing while they are having a good time. The store has Thomas the Train sets, games and accessories; BRIO Garden toys, to give children the opportunity to help with outside gardening; Adora dolls; Webkinz pets; Plan Toys; and many more. Every toy found at Little Blue Choo Choo will be a unique discovery difficult to find at the average toy store. Over the summer, Little Blue Choo Choo will also invite kids to participate in a weekly arts and crafts day. Whether painting, sculpting or building, the weekly event is sure to be fun, exciting and beneficial to kids’ growing development. Little Blue Choo Choo is located in Mesa at 1652 S. Val Vista Road. For more information about the store’s unique selection of toys, or about the summer arts and crafts day, call Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., or Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 480-926-0772. Although there is a much wider selection in-store, you also can shop online at www.littlebluechoochoo.com. By Meredeth Simonds Warner's Tree Surgery: Living in Arizona, the precautions we take are vastly different than those who live in cooler climates, including how we care for our trees. Yet, simply watering more often is not enough to protect their health. As Mesa Tree Surgeon Warner Working explains, the pruning and nutritional needs of our trees are vastly different, too. “You have people that have moved here that don’t understand that trees shouldn’t be pruned like they were at home,” Working says, “and you have professionals that don’t understand that they can’t apply the same rules here they have known so well back where they came from.” For instance, one wrong cut on a tree during the summer can make it susceptible to sunburn, which can cause permanent damage, especially to citrus and ash trees. “Also, the soil is different,” Working says. “Most people here moved from an area that had an acidic soil, while the soil here is alkaline.” Alkaline soil not only promotes the growth of harmful fungus, but also presents different nutritional needs. These adverse conditions put stress on trees, which can cause diseases requiring aggressive intervention. “That’s where we come in,” Working says; “That’s where we shine.” Family owned and operated, Warner’s Tree Surgery is a second-generation business that has been caring for trees successfully for more than 40 years. Based in Mesa for 16 of those years, 2,000 current clients value their local expertise. “Few arborists have the desire, time or aptitude to glean the specialized knowledge that pertains to this area of the world,” Working says. “It’s spread out in literally hundreds of books. “I have made it my business to learn everything that is known about how trees work, from a cellular level to a whole system,” Working says, “as well as everything that is known about diseases that affect them and why and what to do to cure them.” Arizonans need to be especially attentive to Queen Palms, virtually all of which are infected with an airborne fungus that causes their fronds to wither. Left untreated, many will eventually die. That’s why hundreds of Warner’s clients have their Queen Palms treated every six months. You can ensure the health of your trees through Warner’s Tree Surgery with services that include expert pruning; tree disease diagnostics and treatment; soil-injected, slow-release fertilization; cabling for at-risk limbs; repair of cracked trees and limbs; and soil treatments. When you call Warner’s Tree Surgery, you’ll talk to Working’s wife, Pat. She’ll schedule you for a consultation with Working, who meets with every client and performs all tree disease diagnostics. Then, Working’s sons – Preston, a master arborist with more than 20 years experience, and Patrick, a highly skilled arborist with more than 8 years experience – do the work. “Trees are an investment in time, money and sometimes love,” Working says. “Our customers deserve and receive the benefit of our knowledge.” For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 480-969-8808; also, visit www.warnerstree.com. D. Paul Jewelry: Are you aware that you have a gold mine in your backyard? Have you experienced trouble finding an expert jeweler to competently handle your family treasures? Good service is harder and harder to find these days and D. Paul Jewelry is trying to fill that niche. From watch batteries to custom design, the staff at D. Paul can help you find a solution to your problem, or find that perfect gift for your significant other. There you will find an extraordinary collection of gemstones and jewelry styles by various artists. Have you ever wanted to design a piece of jewelry? Don at D. Paul would like to combine his talents with your ideas to create jewelry that fits your taste, personality and your pocketbook. “Custom” doesn’t have to mean expensive. Location location location! D. Paul Jewelers is located at 6017 E. McKellips Road, Suite 112, which might prompt customers to ask, “why would somebody open a jewelry store there?” If they can keep their costs down, they can keep their prices down. You don’t need to wait for a SALE because the prices are already there. Don at D. Paul Jewelry has been honing his skills as a jeweler and an artist for the past 29 years. Among his specialties are jewelry restoration and redesign. He can repair or customize an existing piece or put your gems into something brand new. Says Don, “We at D. Paul Jewelry hope you are equally as excited to have a full-service jeweler in our community. Our priorities are convenience, congeniality and value. Please visit our location at the southeast corner of McKellips and Recker Roads.” For more information or to see the creative pieces available at D. Paul Jewelry visit the store or call Don at 480-625-6000.

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