By Recker McDowell — The city of Chandler has honored Ginger Voltmer for her volunteer work  with Neighbors Who Care. The East Valley group helps connect home-bound, disabled, and older residents who live alone with supportive community volunteers. Those folks Voltmer has been volunteering with the group the past four year and has been honored with one of Chandler’s Volunteer Recognition … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Arizona is seeing some improvements with the COVID-19 pandemic with fewer hospitalizations as well as patients on ventilators and in intensive care units. Let us hope the media report improvements with the pandemic with as much vigor as they chronicled the rise in cases and not just search for the next political fight to stoke. But … Read More

By Bob Littlefield The final primary election results are in and unfortunately I will not be advancing to the general election. Here are the results for Mayor (red numbers indicate that candidate’s rank in the standings): In this race the top two finishers (Ortega and Borowsky) will advance to the general election. In the Council race no candidate was elected … Read More

* Paradise Valley Councilwoman Julie Pace ran a campaign to make a statement.  And she did.  With a margin of victory of some 20% (and more) over her closest competitors, Pace not only was the top vote-getter but clearly positioned herself as the favorite to be the Town’s next Mayor when the popular Jerry Bien-Willner decides it’s time to pass … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Fire fighters and other first responders put their lives on their line every day to help others and to save lives. It is important they have the training, equipment, and gear to do their jobs. That includes the growing number of women working in frontline fields. The Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association and Tucson Fire Fighters Association … Read More

By Recker McDowell — COVID-19 has decimated nonprofit and charity events and fundraising. Here is one chance to help one of the region’s leading performing arts groups. Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) will hold an 8-hour virtual telethon on Saturday, August 22nd. The event replaces the theatre’s annual fundraising gala. The virtual effort will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and at … Read More

By Recker McDowell — A new venture from the renowned Pace Gallery in New York and Laurene Powell Jobs will bring new immersive art experiences to Miami. The Superblue experiences will bring new contemporary and interactive installations to a Miami neighborhood near the Rubell Museum in December.  Powell Jobs is the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs. The effort could … Read More

By Recker McDowell — We are not sure when schools across Arizona and the country will fully reopen. But as schools and workplaces eventually get back to some sense of normalcy it will be as important as ever to support programs that help students with their academic and career paths. Some of those notable efforts are through Jobs for Arizona … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Nancy Grant has volunteered at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale the past 8 years. “I’m involved in animal care and releasing animals back into the wild,” Grant said. The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center rescues, rehabilitates, and cares for wild animals including wolves, coyotes, foxes, bears, mountain lions, raccoons and javelinas. Grant said she volunteers … Read More

By Lincoln Shea — For many in the horseracing industry, travelling from city to city is part of the business. Finding a church while on the move is not easy. That is why Turf Paradise provides an on-site chapel and a chaplain for its jockeys, trainers, and extended family of those who work in the horseracing industry. Reverend John Shumaker … Read More