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 Tickets on Sale for Mesa Historic Home Tour If you are looking to attend an event that is unique, that highlights Mesa’s historic roots and that benefits a great cause, consider purchasing tickets to Mesa’s 8th Annual Historic Home Tour, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This year’s tour will be in the West 2nd St. Historic District and will showcase nine private homes and several historic buildings, including the Sirrine House, Antique Wedding House and Irving School. Tickets cost $25 per person, and are available at the Mesa Historical Museum, 2345 N. Horne, or online at www.mesahistoricalmuseum.org. Tickets include the tour, complimentary lunch at RigaTony’s, a visit to the Mesa Historical Museum and dessert. All proceeds benefit the museum. As part of the tour, the Mesa Historical Museum has produced an information-packed book for all tour participants that includes information on the styles of homes on the tour as well as their individual histories. Sponsors of the Annual Historic Home Tour include the City of Mesa, RigaTony’s, The Arizona Republic, SRP and Americopy. For more information, contact Lisa Anderson, Mesa Historical Museum president and CEO, at 480-835-7358.. Mesa Scenes of America Book Coming On January 21, Arcadia Publishing will release a new title in its Scenes of America series: “Mesa.” As with other titles in the Scenes of America series, “Mesa” includes many photographs, primarily from the collections of the Mesa Historical Museum and the Arizona Museum of Natural History. In addition to interesting photographs, some of which have never before been published, the book includes a well-researched history of Mesa. (Did you know Mesa was home to a thriving wine industry in the late 1800s? Or that Mesa’s livestock industry once included ostriches?) Authors Lisa Anderson and Jared Smith are director and collections manager, respectively, at the Mesa Historical Museum; Thomas Wilson is director and Alice Jung is a museum educator at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. “Mesa” will be available for purchase at the Mesa Historical Museum and bookstores throughout the area. Retail price is $20. Military Vehicle Show The 17th Annual Papago Military Vehicle Show will take place Jan. 26-27, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Arizona National Guard, 1335 N. 52nd St. in Phoenix. The show offers attendees a close look at antique and classic military vehicles from World War II to present. Features include Jeeps, Humvees, troop-carriers and tracked vehicles. Other events at the show include: The Maule Sisters’ performance of their exciting and patriotic Andrew Sisters routine (following the Pledge of Allegiance at noon on Saturday); a No Vehicle Auction of military surplus, and items suitable for children (beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.); and an indoor swap meet. Admission to the show is free; however, parking requires a $5 donation. Also, the National Guard Family Assistance Program will be holding a food drive throughout the weekend. Help by bringing non-perishable items. The show is hosted by the Arizona National Guard and the Arizona Military Vehicle Collectors Club. For more information, visit www.armytrucks.org or call 480-497-9722. ABC: How Far Will $1 Go? ABC: A Better Community is a program that provides an opportunity for Mesa Utility customers to easily contribute to the community by donating money with their monthly utility bill payment. For 2007-’08, the Office of Human Services allocated $153,300 to the community. Non-profit agencies that benefit from ABC include Mesa Boys & Girls Club, MARC Center of Mesa, East Valley Senior Services and United Food Bank. All donated funds are distributed to agencies that provide assistance to low-income families, individuals, the disabled, seniors and at-risk youth. City of Mesa Utility customers can voluntarily add $1 or more to their monthly utility bills. SurePay customers can call Customer Service at 480-644-2221 to request that the additional amount be added automatically each month. For more information, contact Lisa Wilson, Mesa Human Services specialist, at 480-644-5831. Food, Wine and Beer Tasting Event St. Bridget’s Knights of Columbus presents its 8th annual “It’s The Good Life,” a food, wine and beer tasting extravaganza in conjunction with a silent auction. The event will be held 4-7 p.m. Jan. 27 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, 2213 N. Lindsay in Mesa. The Doc Jones Trio with vocalist Nayo Jones will provide entertainment. As of press time, participating restaurants include Red, White and Brew; E.J.’s Fine Dining; Vito’s Restaurante; World Famous Islamoranda Fish Company; D’Vines; Windermere; Indigo Joes; Tom’s B.B.Que; Edible Arrangements; and Supper Supers. Advance tickets cost $25 per person or $30 at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Knights of Columbus Memorial Scholarship Fund, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, American Cancer Society and Make A Wish. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Joe Spadaro, 480-330-7468. Fashion Show Brunch Mesa’s Women’s Connection presents its “Dressed to the Hilt” luncheon Monday, Jan. 14, 10-11:30 a.m. at Windemere Conference Center, 5750 E. Main St. This month’s brunch features speaker Vicki Ashcraft, a published author and former administrative assistant, who will incorporate the Internet into her personal growth story of “Got Mail? How About a Love Letter?.” In addition, Carole Rose from La Bella Rosa boutique will present a unique style show, with tips on getting the most out of a wardrobe. Music will be provided by Freda Murray. 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. 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.