Mesa Amphitheater - Center & University - (480) 644-2178 Mesa Arts Center - 1 East Main Street -Box Office 480-644-6500, Admin 480-644-6501 Mesa Convention Center - 201 N. Center St. Mesa Historical Museum - 2345 N. Horne Street - (480) 835-735 Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre - 5247 E. Brown Road - (480) 325-6700 Garden Railroad Open House Twenty families are opening their backyards to the public to display their garden railroads on April 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and April 27, 10 a.m. -3p.m. Be sure to check out the layout of Groves neighbors Ed and Carole Dunshie, and while you are there, pick up a map to the other garden railroad locations. The Dunshies are located at 3326 E. Fairfield St. in Mesa, on the southwest corner of Val Vista Dr. and Brown Road. This event is always free. Come and enjoy! For directions or more information, call 480-807-3575. A Night Out in Downtown Mesa Don’t forget about “A Night Out in Downtown Mesa,” which occurs on the second Friday of every month on and around West downtown Main Street. This means that downtown visitors will once again enjoy great shopping, dining and live entertainment until 10 p.m. Special activities will also be held at the Mesa Arts Center. For more information, call Kim Johnson at Mystic Paper, 480-834-0286, e-mail Kim@mysticpaper.com or visit www.downtownmesa.com/fno_march.htm. Diaper Drive for the Needy The Valley Diaper Bank, a grass-roots coalition of Valley nonprofit agencies, is asking for contributions in its sixth-annual Valley Diaper Drive. Packages of new disposable diapers are being collected now through May 31. Area organizations, clubs, churches, schools, scout troops and employee groups are asked to organize diaper drives, using instructions available on the Diaper Bank web site, www.valleydiaperbank.org. Throughout the month of May, the public also can drop off diapers at any Valley location of Sunflower Farmers Market or Discount Tire Company. Diapers collected will be distributed to needy families through the Diaper Bank’s nonprofit partner agencies across the Valley. The Valley Diaper Bank supplies diapers to agencies already working with people in need, and does not give diapers to individuals. Since the first Valley Diaper Drive in 2002, the Valley Diaper Bank has provided 790,000 diapers to more than 70 nonprofit, government and church-sponsored social service agencies in Maricopa County. For more information on volunteering, starting a Diaper Drive or making contributions to the Valley Diaper Bank, visit the web site or call 602-253-0050. Mesa Public Schools Auction Mesa Public Schools is holding a public auction on April 12 at 845 E. Second Ave. Item inspection begins at 7:30 a.m., with bidding opening at 9 a.m. Items to be sold at the auction are excess, obsolete, or worn out and in need of repair. They include office and classroom furniture, computer equipment, audio/visual equipment, office equipment, athletic equipment and industrial arts equipment. All sales from the auction are final. Accepted forms of payment are cash, cashier’s check, local check with bank guarantee card and valid Arizona driver’s license. No out-of-state checks will be accepted. The auction will be led by The Arizona Auctioneers. For more information, call the MPS Property Management Department, 480-472-0973. New Exhibit Opens at Air Force Museum The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Arizona Wing Aviation Museum has opened a new exhibit titled “Triumph Over Adversity.” Dedicated to the black pioneers of aviation who served during World War II, the exhibit recognizes the positive experience, outstanding record of accomplishment and superb behavior of black airmen, especially those of the 91st Fighter Squadron, 322nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group (collectively known as the Tuskegee Airmen), who were important factors in the initiation of social change to achieve racial equality in America. The CAF Arizona Wing Aviation Museum is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Road in Mesa, on the southwest corner of Falcon Field Airport. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, and admission costs $7 for ages 14 to adult and $3 for ages six to 13. Among the warbirds on display are a reduced-scale P-51 “Mustang” and the museum’s B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey,” B-25 “Mitchell” Bomber, North American SNJ/T-6 “Texan,” Stearmans and many more. Warbird rides and gift certificates are available for purchase. For more information, call 480-924-1940 or pio@arizonawingcaf.com. Church Offers Discussion Series to the Public Bethlehem Lutheran Church is beginning a new discussion series for the public entitled “Good God Questions”, be held Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2745 N. 32nd St. in Mesa. With natural catastrophes occurring around the globe and terrorist attacks such as 9-11 occurring within our own borders, more and more Americans are asking tough questions about God. The discussions, led by Pastor Terry Pletkovich and enjoined by professors from Luther Seminary (on DVD), will explore some very important issues. Following is the schedule of questions to be explored: • March 30: Why Does God Allow Suffering? • April 6: What are Bad Answers to Suffering? • April 13: What are Some Personal Answers to Suffering? • April 20: Do Jews, Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? • April 27: Why Did Jesus Have to Die? • May 4: How Do I Know God’s Will For My Life? Everyone is welcome to attend for any or all six evenings. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that offers two Sunday morning worship opportunities, plus an education hour. For more information, call Laurel Green, church secretary, at 480-832-0462 or e-mail ps46v1@blc.phxcoxmail.com. Silver Anniversary for Sons (and Daughters) of Italy Thanks to various TV shows and movies, the phrase “Italian organization” tends to give off a certain negative vibe. But the Order of Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) couldn’t be further from this stereotype. It is the oldest and largest organization of Italian Americans – 102 years old and 600,000 members in different lodges, or groups, nationwide. “[The OSIA] was originally formed to help Italian immigrants assimilate into the American culture,” said Mary Lou Johnston, vice president of the Mesa lodge. “Now it’s kind of the opposite. We’ve assimilated, so we’re trying to preserve our roots and go back to learning and celebrating everything Italian.” Among other things, they give scholarships, promote Italian language in schools and publish the Italian American magazine. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Mesa lodge, called the Albert Bilotti Lodge, will be hosting a gala party on April 6 at the Wyndemere Hotel. Everyone is welcome to attend and join in the fun. The $30 entrance fee includes a buffet dinner and live entertainment, and attendees also will learn about the history of the lodge. Everyone also is welcome to attend the group’s meetings, held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Our Savior Lutheran Church on Ellsworth Road in Mesa. For more information, call Johnston at 480-986-9774, or visit the national website at www.osia.org or the state website at www.osiaaz.org. Free Q&A Session for Writers Barnes & Noble will host a free question-and-answer session and book signing on April 17 with writing coach Dave Trottier, author of “The Screenwriter’s Bible” and “The Freelance Writer’s Bible.” The event will be held at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble on 1758 S. Val Vista Dr. in Mesa. Trottier is a national seminar leader, produced screenwriter and noted author. For more information, write dave@keepwriting.com. Nominations Sought for Historic Preservation Awards The City of Mesa is accepting nominations of deserving residents and organizations from the community for the City’s annual Historic Preservation Awards. Since 1998, 28 awards have been presented to citizens and groups, recognizing them for their contributions in preserving Mesa’s past. Anyone who has helped Mesa’s Historic Preservation Program currently or in the past can be nominated. Categories include Adaptive Reuse, Rehabilitation, Restoration, Archaeology, Education, Tourism, Activism, General Preservation and Lifetime Contribution. The awards will be presented in conjunction with National Historic Preservation Month in May. The 2007 recipient of the Historic Preservation Award was Mesa Public Schools, for its adaptive reuse and restoration of the Irving School. Nomination forms are available by calling the City’s Historic Preservation Office at 480-644-5821 or visiting www.cityofmesa.org/historic/Awards.aspx. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, April 25. Boy Scouts Fundraiser Boy Scouts of America Troop 451 is hosting a fundraiser on May 3 at The Outback Steakhouse at 1860 E. McKellips Road in Mesa. Tickets cost $20 (regardless of age) for a full dinner, which includes steak or chicken, salad, potato, drink and homemade cookies. The Scout Troop also will hold a Silent Auction that night. Kim Harris, proprietor of The Outback Steakhouse, has generously donated use of the facility and other assistance to help the troop get the most out of their fundraising efforts. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Alberta Matthews at 480-844-7638 or 602-315-6827. Book Discussion Group at Main Library The City of Mesa Main Library is offering a monthly book club. The Page Turners Book Group will meet the second Thursday of each month in the Main Library’s Board Room from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The group will read and discuss a variety of fiction and occasional non-fiction titles. The following books will be discussed on these dates: • April 10: “These is My Words” by Nancy E. Turner • May 8: “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood • June 12: “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller • July 10: “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards Registration to join the group is required. For more information and/or to register, call Marian Reisman, 480-644-5899. Volunteers Needed to Makeover Valley Schools Volunteers are being recruited now for the 15th-Annual Make a Difference Serve-A-Thon for Schools on April 12. Serve-A-Thon for Schools will bring together 3,000 volunteers to give local children safer, brighter learning spaces. More than 40 under-resourced schools around the Valley will benefit from fresh coats of paint, refurbished libraries, landscaped green spaces, restored playgrounds and more. To learn how to put together a team of 10 or more volunteers from your family, school, company or group, visit www.makeadifference.org or call 602-973-2212 x226. Individual volunteers also are welcome. Team registration deadline is March 15. Host Families Needed for Foreign Exchange Students Foreign exchange students will be arriving in the East Valley in August for the 2008/’09 school year, and the Organization for Cultural Exchange Among Nations (OCEAN) is seeking volunteer host families willing to open their hearts and homes to one of these students. Students are between the ages of 15-18, and are looking forward to the opportunity to spend an academic year in the U.S. They will learn about America firsthand while residing with host families, participating in their daily activities and attending local high schools. Students come from a variety of countries, including Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. They are fully insured, proficient in English and come with their own spending money to cover personal expenses. Host families are responsible for providing the student with room and board, as well as a loving family environment. The rewards a family receives for hosting an exchange student last a lifetime. In addition, the family makes friends from abroad while helping to bring the world closer together. OCEAN is a non-profit organization located in Tempe. It has been designated by the U.S. Department of State, and OCEAN has been granted full listing with the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (SCIET). For more information on welcoming a foreign exchange student into your home, call OCEAN at 480-784-4671, e-mail ocean@hostaforeignstudent.org or visit www.hostaforeignstudent.org. Play Golf for Young Readers By Blake, First Grade, Zaharis Elementary, Room 2 Come to the best, the one and only 4th-Annual Alex and Jenny Casteel Team, Links to Library Golf Tournament. It starts May 3 with a shotgun start… BANG! The golf tournament will be at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa. This charity tournament is to raise money for books and equipment for the media center at Zaharis Elementary in Mesa. The “early bird catches the worm” price is $100 per player. This price includes golf, practice balls, a cart, some dinner, prizes and a live Elvis concert following golf. To register, go to www.zaharisgolf.com. Have questions? Call Scott Ritter, the teacher librarian and tournament coordinator at 480-308-7237 or e-mail him at fsritter@mpsaz.org. Community Warning About Utilities Imposters Recently, there have been a number of incidents involving imposters posing as city employees to gain access to and burglarize homes in Mesa. Targets primarily have been elderly residents. If a person or persons ask to enter your home as a City of Mesa Utilities Department or another City department employee, please take the following precautions: • Ask to see their badge. City employees carry a city-issued photo identification card. • Look for a uniform. All City field staff wear uniforms that prominently include the City’s logo. • If in doubt, ask them to wait outside, and tell them you need to contact the City of Mesa to verify that crews are working in your neighborhood. If they are posing as City employees, they likely will not stay too long. Call the Utility Control Center at 480-644-2262 for assistance. Please be assured that our employees will not ask to come into your home unless you have called them to do so. If someone has entered your home illegally, please notify the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211. Fair Housing Training Offered A new interactive, two-day training on fair housing and non-discrimination is being offered free of charge to residents, landlords, property managers, housing authorities and non-profit agencies. The training will be held April 21-22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the City of Mesa’s South Center Campus, 200 S. Center St. Registration for the training must be received by April 4. The training will cover a variety of topics, including fair housing trends; disability/diversity awareness; what does discrimination mean as a housing provider; denial of admissions, termination of assistance and evictions; regulations; and best practices. The free training is provided by Nan McKay and Associates, an industry leader in training and consulting to public housing agencies and staff. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides funding for the training. To register, contact Jennifer Hedges at 480-644-2387 or e-mail jennifer.hedges@cityofmesa.org. Get Creative With the Women’s Connection Mesa’s Women’s Connection presents this month’s luncheon on April 14, 10-11:30 a.m. at Windemere Conference Center, 5750 E. Main St. The brunch features the theme, “A Little Creativity Can Work Wonders!” Speaker Sue Beekman, a wife, mother, and Kansas State University and Tabor College alumnus, will share her story, called Secrets of Overcoming Fear. In addition, Julie Cline from Jul’s Heart Designs will show off creative ideas with personalized accessories and home decorating ideas. Melodies will be sung by Roxane Nelson. Reservations are required for the luncheon; the fee is $17.50. For more information or to make a reservation, call Judy at 480-830-9136. The luncheon is sponsored by the Mesa Christian Women’s Club and Stonecroft Ministries.