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 Holiday Garden Railroad Open House A total of 16 homes in the Valley are opening their outdoor garden train layouts for the public to enjoy during the holiday season. Groves neighbors Ed and Carole Dunshie are one of the families who will again open their backyard layout, “Trainquility Junction,” for others to enjoy through the holiday season. This whimsical-themed railroad covers the entire perimeter of the Dunshies’ backyard, and includes such fun items as bridges, tunnels, waterfalls… along with dwarf cottages, carnivals, Sonoran villages, large fairy castles (fairies included!), “homies” and dozens of famous characters. Grab a pencil and printed list on-site, and see how many of these people you can locate. The highlight of the Dunshies’ open house belongs to Saturday nights! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the gazebo at their home, listening to “naughty and nice” tales. Bring the whole family and your camera. While you are there, enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and take a peek into the Dunshies’ family room to check out the elevated train around the top of the room. The Dunshies are located at 3326 E. Fairfield St. in Mesa. Call 480-807-3575. Another family sharing its passion for model railroading is Terry and Adrienne Haas. They have worked like elves for months to expand their “A&T Express.” Say “hi” to Adrienne when you arrive – she is the engineer for the front yard Christmas trains. Then, take a walk through the gate to see the large layout in the backyard! Trains run all along the mural painted fence, around and behind the pool, and now they nestle among three large citrus trees, as well. Terry has been a model train hobbyist for many years and will fill you in on all the changes he and Adrienne have been making, as well as their plans for what may come next. Terry also has lots of replica items from his favorite places in Ohio. The Haas home is located at 1861 E. Fountain St. in Mesa. Call 480-827-8604. Maps showing the locations of all 16 layouts can be picked up at either of the above locations. Homes will be open Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. Donations will benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Briar Patch Marketplace If you are new to the Valley, it’s possible that you have never experienced a shopping day at the Briar Patch Marketplace. However, if you have lived here for even a few years, you might already know that Briar Patch Marketplace is the largest traveling “arts and crafts” show in town. Owner Jeannie Cueto and her dedicated family often bring together more than 100 vendors each spring and fall at various locations around the Valley. Spend the day strolling among this gathering of professional crafts, home-based entrepreneurs and regional artisans, nibbling on a bakery-style cinnamon bun or other hand-made goodie. You’ll always find fun jewelry and trendy fashions, home accessories and quilts, holiday décor, antiques and collectibles, pottery, folk art and more. The fall schedule for Briar Patch Marketplace, which benefits each of the host schools athletic departments, is as follows: • Dec. 8-9, Mesquite High School, 500 S. McQueen in Gilbert Hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sundays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit www.briarpatchcrafts.com. Get Some ‘Holiday Sparkle’ at the Women’s Brunch Mesa’s Women’s Connection presents its “Holiday Sparkle” luncheon Monday, Dec. 10, 10-11:30 a.m. at Windemere Conference Center, 5750 E. Main St. This month’s brunch features speaker Debbie Newport, co-owner of Cruise Planners travel service, who will share about life’s journey and how to find hope when life goes off course. In addition, Jodi McLaughlin from Silpada Designs will present a jewelry show of handmade sterling silver jewelry. Music will be provided by Jerri Conrils. 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. Valley Citrus Festival Prepare for the 2008 citrus planting season by learning answers to all your questions about growing healthy citrus in the Valley of the Sun. The East Valley Citrus Clinic will be held Jan. 19, 2008 at the Greenfield Citrus Nursery, 2558 E. Lehi Road in Mesa. Gates open at 8:30 a.m., with the clinic running from 9 a.m. to noon. Five half-hour presentations will be given concurrently and be repeated four times during the morning. An open question-and-answer period to consult with the foremost experts in the state will be held from 11:30 to noon. Attendees can taste-test many citrus varieties and learn how to select the best option for their needs. All presentations will be held outdoors, so dress according to the elements. Wear walking shoes and bring your own chair if you would like to sit. Except for service animals, pets are not allowed. Topics will include: Citrus Varieties Demonstration and Tasting; Citrus Pruning, Planting and Budding; Citrus Irrigation Practices; Citrus Fertilization Practices; Citrus Insect Pests and Their Control; and Citrus Diseases and Control. Tickets in advance are available for $8 from the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway Road in Phoenix, or cost $10 at the gate. Ticket sales are limited, so advanced purchase is recommended. For more information, call 602-470-1556 and press 1012, or visit http://ag.Arizona.edu/Maricopa/garden. Hunter Education Class Basic Hunter Education classes will be held at the Poston Jr. High auditorium, 2433 E. Adobe in Mesa, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from Jan. 8, 2008 through Feb. 7, 6:45-9 p.m. In addition, a four-hour required field day will be held Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club on Usery Pass Road. In-person registration will be held at 6:30-7 p.m. prior to the first class session. Total cost for the class is $9. Checks should be made out to MHEIA. Attendees should bring their Social Security number or AZ Hunter ID number to registration. The basic class is for hunters/future hunters of all ages, and parents are encouraged to attend with their youth. This class is required for all persons 10-14 years old to hunt big game in Arizona. It also qualifies the graduate for a permanent bonus point. Maximum class size is 250 persons. For more information, contact Mike at 480-834-1791. See the Arizona Game and Fish Hunter Education class schedule at www.azgfd.com. Apply Now for Open Enrollment Open enrollment allows Arizona students to attend public schools outside their attendance area or district. Mesa Public Schools offers many choices in education, and welcomes open-enrollment students from another Mesa school or district. Students who would like to change schools or remain on open-enrollment status in Mesa Public Schools for the 2008-’09 school year should apply to their school of choice by Feb. 1. The school will notify parents by May 31 if the student has been accepted for open enrollment. Families must notify the school within two weeks whether they plan to enroll the student. If openings are insufficient, eligible applicants will be placed on a waiting list and notified if openings occur. For more information about open enrollment, visit Mesa Public Schools website at www.mpsaz.org. Donate for Eye Care Mission Central Christian Church of the East Valley and the Lions Vision Center of Phoenix are sponsoring the 3rd-Annual Medical Mission to Poltava, Ukraine June 18-28, 2008, and need your donations. The group screens hundreds of low-income people for eye disease and brings donated eyeglasses, medical supplies, glaucoma and antibiotic eye drops. The Lions provide slit lamps for the exams at churches, orphanages, prisons, clinics and remote villages. The need is great and the people are very grateful, many seeing Americans for the first time. All donations are tax deductible. Please make checks to Central Christian Church with “Ukraine trip” as the note, or donate online at www.cccev.com. For more information, contact trip leader Dr. Robert Spurny at Lwolf@evglaucoma.com. Spalding Invites Everyone to Night of Honors How does a Hall of Fame karate school wrap up its year? By hosting a “Night of Honors” show for the Valley, to be held Dec. 14. “We wanted to honor our students who have excelled this year, and put on an entertaining show for all to see,” says Daniel Spalding, founder. The show will consist of exciting martial arts demonstrations, awards and a Black Belt graduation. The event is open to the public, and will be held at the Highland High School auditorium from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the school, or at the box office the day of the event. What’s next for the trend-setting school? How about three Valley locations by January 2008? The original school can be found on the northeast corner of Recker and Brown roads in Mesa, and has been operating for more than 8 years. Another school will be opening on McDowell, just west of Greenfield in Mesa, and a third facility recently opened in Gilbert, on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Queen Creek roads. Find all of their contact information at www.spaldingkarate.com. Relax and Enjoy the Out to Lunch Concert Series Bring your lunch and enjoy a free outdoor concert! Mesa Arts Center invites music lovers to enjoy its Thursday lunch hours at Mesa Arts Center’s Wells Fargo Garden for the Out to Lunch Concert Series. The lunchtime concerts will feature local soloists and duos playing a variety of music, including folk, classic rock, reggae, country, classical and world music. Chairs and some lawn seating is available – stadium cushions and blankets are welcome, along with brown bags and picnic baskets. Here’s the upcoming schedule: • Dec. 6: The Alston Sisters, sweet sounds of the Southwest In addition, guests can combine their lunchtime visit with a free tour of Mesa Contemporary Arts, the five visual arts galleries at Mesa Arts Center. Sponsored by Salt River Project, this program continues through 2007, allowing patrons to view the exhibitions for free from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 480-644-6500 or visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com 50th Annual Christmas Idea House This holiday season marks the 50th anniversary of Desert Club’s Christmas Idea House. Desert Club is a non-profit, all-volunteer women’s organization that begins working in late spring to make fabulous holiday decorations and gourmet items. The decorations are displayed in a beautiful home that has been generously loaned to the group by a family in the community. The home is open for tour and all items are for sale. All proceeds go back to the community. The Club’s 2007 theme is “Right Down Santa Claus Lane.” This year’s event will take place at a luxurious home in northeast Mesa. Visitors will be welcomed by a charming courtyard before entering the home. Once inside, they will be wowed by the beautiful hand-painted ceilings in several rooms and the gourmet kitchen, which showcases a brick-domed ceiling in the nook. Several events are happening at the Idea House this season: • Public home tour: Nov. 30, 4-9 p.m.; Dec. 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets for the home tour are available now from Desert Club members or the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, or may be purchased at the door. • Preview Gala Dinner: Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m. This black tie-optional event features a home tour, gourmet dinner and silent auction. • Sneak Peek Brunch or Lunch: Nov. 30, 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Choose one of two seatings, and enjoy a delicious catered meal followed by a home tour. To get to the Christmas Idea House, located in northeast Mesa: Exit the 202 at Val Vista Dr. and head south towards Brown Road. Follow signs to parking; or exit U.S. 60 at Val Vista Drive and head north to Brown Road. Follow signs to parking. For additional information, visit http://christmasideahouse.org/christmasideahouse Get Healthy Seminar Learn all about herbal healing at the Get Healthy Seminar, to be held Jan. 10, 2008 and again on Jan. 24 from 6-9 p.m. at the Mesa Women’s Club, 200 N. Macdonald. Topics to be discussed include: Herbs for prevention of illness; Herbal treatments for allergies, menopause, digestive disorders, colds, flus, stress; raising healthy, vibrant children naturally; Safety of herbs; Making your own herbal formulas and remedies; Herbal weight loss help; Q&A. The class will be taught by Kathleen Gould, RH(AGH), a certified herbalist who has studied, taught and lived herbalism for more than 25 years. For those who pre-register for the seminar, cost is free; otherwise, admission costs $50 at the door. In addition, everyone who pre-registers will receive a grab bag filled with herbal products. Seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. To register or receive more information, call 480-694-9931. Pipe Band Charity Golf Tournament The Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band invites you to its 4th-Annual Tartan Golf Fest at Raven South Mountain, 3636 E. Baseline Road in Phoenix, on Saturday, Dec. 8. The event kicks off with a 12:45 p.m. shotgun start for a Best Ball Scramble. Cost is $98 per person and includes golf, tee favors and buffet dinner. Proceeds benefit the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band and its educational and performance programs. Come out to see some kilts, hear bagpipes and have fun! Reservations can be made online at www.mcpb.org on the golf tourney link, or by calling Dianne Nunez at 480-641-8073.