Photos by Mark Susan
Saba’s Western Wear 
(480) 595-0959
sabaswesternwear.com

These Lucchese 1883s are made in the US of A and come complete with vintage distressed leather soles and sanded wingtips. $395

This Cripple Creek black-leather jacket sports studs on both sides and a leather cross on the back. $350

Try these on for size: black and white scalloped Hairon Belt for $95 or Spur Raul belt with studs and bling for $99.

Valerie’s Furniture & Accents
(480) 483-3327
valeriesfurniture.com‎

This Mad Cow leather settee with acid-washed cowhide has natural nail-head trim and a vintage leather seat. $6,499
Hairon hide cowboy-cutout pillow with silver conchos and leather fringe, made by a local artist. $259

This red rustic copper cabinet by a local artist is solid alder with copper doors, copper nail head, and carved-rope trim. $929

Feeling patriotic? This leather executive office chair swivels and tilts, boldly displaying stars and stripes and accented with dollar coin and nail head trim, complete with rolling wheels. As you may have guessed—made in the USA! $5,089

By Lea Friese-Haben

She Took Her Love to Town

Dear Lea,

I can’t believe that I am writing to you, as I am shocked to be in this situation. I am 39 years old, successful in business, married fourteen years with three beautiful children. My wife now says she wants to leave me for another man, who is also married. She went on a “girl trip” in April to San Diego and met someone there, and has been secretly carrying on ever since. I don’t know what to do. One minute, she says that it as just a fling and that it’s over, but yet she is still texting him. The next I know, she is cleaning out our checking account, maxing out our credit cards, and moves out while I am at work. My poor kids are a mess and are so confused. I love her and yet I am not sure that I can ever forgive her or trust her after all of this. Her parents and sisters are in shock and have fortunately sided with me. I am dumbfounded. What should I do?

Signed,
Confused

Dear Confused,

I see this all the time with women who are about to turn 40. Most of the time it is not about you—it’s about her and what she feels she may be missing. She is feeling insecure about herself and is looking for validation outside herself as well as outside the marriage. I would do what you can to protect your finances and try to get her into counseling. Some marriages can be salvaged after infidelity, but honestly, the percentages are small, and it takes a lot of work to earn the trust back. Make sure that the children and you receive the necessary counseling. This is usually a phase and she will probably try to keep you as a safety net or try to come back once it is over. The other man involved probably won’t leave his wife, as it is rare that they ever do. She will want to come back after the relationship fails. It’s my personal and professional belief that if people stray once, they will probably stray again. My advice is to take care of yourself and your children and be very careful with your heart and your finances. Good luck, and keep me posted.

Lea

Don’t Dress Like a Cub

Dear Coach Lea,

I saw you on the news recently and you had given a woman a “Cougar Makeover.” My sister desperately needs your help. My niece and nephew are horrified with her wardrobe and her behavior. I read your columns and I hope that she will heed your advice as a professional, as nothing my mom and I have said has made a difference. She is dating a guy that is only five years older than her son. I wish I could have taped that newscast, as she is worse than the cougar you had on the show. I would love for her to meet a great guy, but she never will as long as she continues on this path. Can you define a cougar-gone overboard the way you did on the news? My sister is 42 trying to be 20, and quite frankly, it’s embarrassing to be seen with her. I loved the classy makeover you did for the cougar on the show.

Thank you,
Concerned Sis

Dear Sis,

I had lots of phone calls, e-mails and Facebook comments after that show. For future reference, that episode aired on FOX 10 on July 28 and is archived on the Web site at myfoxphoenix.com.

Cougar-Gone-Bad Checklist

• Overdone breasts

• Overly injected lips

• Bad hair extensions

• So much Botox that all facial expression is gone

• Miniskirts (Never after the age of 35)

• Pamela Anderson hair

• Clothes that are too tight or too young

• Dating men that are closer to the age of their children

It is my personal belief that a woman any age and any size can look and feel beautiful with the right help. Real beauty comes from within and radiates outward. If your sister wants happiness in a relationship, she needs to change the bait that she is currently using. A beautiful, confident, sexy woman will always fare better in love than an older woman trying too hard to look too young. My advice is to quit living in the past and make the most of what you have! Have her contact me. Keep me posted and tell her to check out the video.

Lea

By Kevin Downey

Walk down Becker Lane in Scottsdale any night and, in barely a minute, you’ll realize there’s something special and uniquely Western happening on this quiet little street off Scottsdale Road, one block north of Shea Boulevard.

Every night, the twang of guitars fills the air, and if that doesn’t give you a clue about what’s shaking on Becker Lane, the sea of cowboy hats and the rhythmic shuffling of cowboy boots should do it.

This is the iconic and lively Handlebar-J, a partially outdoor bar and restaurant that since the 1960s has been solidifying its stature as a hotbed for country music and a hotspot for country-western dancing.

“During the season, we have music every night,” says Gwen Herndon, owner of Handlebar-J since the mid-1970s. “It’s really good country music. The musicians can play anything—they’re really good. They play country-western music unless someone requests something else.”

Most nights, the music at Handlebar-J is played by topnotch musicians, including Herndon’s brothers, who not surprisingly call themselves The Herndon Brothers. One of the brothers, Ray, recently released a CD, Livin’ the Dream. He tours for months most years, playing guitar for Lyle Lovett and His Large Band.

The music at Handlebar-J is no-holds-barred country, played exceptionally well. Even noncountry music fans will find themselves tapping their toes.

Add to that an upbeat atmosphere and steaks big enough to feed entire families. Handlebar-J is a fun-and music-filled saloon tucked away on a dimly lit street—hidden from the general eye but worth discovering or rediscovering.

“It’s a really popular place with tourists and locals because it’s a one-of-a-kind place,” says Herndon. “During the season, it’s quite busy, and we have pretty good-sized parties, too.”

Handlebar-J, is located at 7116 Becker Lane, Scottsdale. (480) 948-0110. Lunch begins at 11 a.m., and dinner starts at 4 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 5 p.m. Sundays. Live music begins at 8:30 p.m. every night, with a $5 cover charge on Fridays and Saturdays. For the performance schedule and other information, visit handlebarj.com.

By Kevin Downey

Even here in the North Valley, where the Old West that we know from the movies was a way of life for generations, it’s often easy to overlook remnants of that history, what with backed-up freeways and sweeping vistas blocked by sparkling office towers and mega-shopping centers.

But seek the Old West and you shall find it. Just ask Cheryl Ward and Todd Masden, owners of Cave Creek Outfitters in far North Scottsdale.

At Cave Creek Outfitters, the Old West isn’t merely nostalgia for a lost time. It’s an everyday way of life for Ward, whose background in showing horses began as a young girl, and Masden, who grew up to be a working cowboy like his father and grandfather before him.

“Cheryl and I have both shown horses quite a bit,” Masden says. “I was a working cowboy in Colorado and Arizona. And back in Ohio, Cheryl showed horses. She had a big room in her house back there, covered in ribbons.”

Cave Creek Outfitters, which Ward and Masden opened in 1993, caters to visitors from around the Valley and from towns and cities around the country. They saddle up visitors six days a week all year long for guided tours on horseback, including one-hour, two-hour, half-day, and full-day trips.

A day at Cave Creek Outfitters is a day in the Old West.

“We’re real proud of our facility,” Ward says. “We have Western storefronts. We have a Western look. With our horses, we do Western riding, not English riding. We dress in Western clothes and we love to tell the story of Western history.”

Outfitters’ guided tours are steeped in Old West history, courtesy of Ward and Masden, who share with visitors their encyclopedic knowledge of the area, including its flora and fauna.

“About anything you ever saw on a TV Western probably took place here, including the [historic] shootout at the OK Corral,” says Masden. “And there were military forces. The Pima Indians worked as scouts for the Army during the Apache Wars.”

The area’s history stretches back not only to the days of Arizona’s first settlers but also to Indian tribes whose histories go back centuries, according to Masden.

“We had to have an archeological survey on our trail system,” he says. “They found stuff from Indians from as far back as 800 B.C. It’s an old area, but also with more modern Indians like the Apache and Pima.”

Cave Creek Outfitters has more than forty horses for visitors to ride. These gorgeous, friendly animals are exceedingly well cared for and are suited for both first-time and seasoned riders. Guided tours run Monday through Saturday, with only early-morning and evening rides during the summer.

Ward and Masden will roll out the chuck wagon with cookouts for up to sixty people in a private area with a fire pit and a covered pavilion, and offer a pickup service for visitors from about two dozen hotels throughout the North Valley.

“It’s nice for businesspeople who arrive at their hotel without a rental car,” Ward says. “And, for families, it’s really popular, sometimes because half the family wants to go golfing and the other half wants to come here.”

Some may head for fresh turf, but if you prefer the Old West, step in to Cave Creek Outfitters and spend some time with a couple of authentic Old West guides.

Cave Creek Outfitters is located at 31313 N. 144th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85262, Call toll free at (888) 921-0040 or visit cavecreekoutfitters.com for directions, prices, and riding options.

By Alana Stroud

1. Strawberry Schoolhouse in Strawberry was built in 1884 and is Arizona’s oldest log cabin one-room schoolhouse.

1. Arizona’s largest pumpkin was 469 pounds and was grown by a man in Ahwatukee.

1. Dogs have been man’s best friend for over 15,000 years. That’s a long time!

1. During the Mexican-American War, the United States purchased the land that would eventually become Arizona from the Republic of Mexico for $15 million dollars (equivalent to $368 million today).

1. Tears produced during emotional crying have a chemical composition that differs from other types of tears: they contain significantly greater quantities of the prolactin and adrenocorticotropic hormones, the neurotransmitter leu-enkephalin, and the elements potassium and manganese.

1. During World War II, German and Italian POW camps existed where the Phoenix Zoo stands today.

1. While driving in India, the right-of-way is given in this order: cows, elephants, heavy trucks, buses, official cars, camels, light trucks, buffalo, jeeps, oxcarts, private cars, motorcycles, scooters, auto-rickshaws, pigs, pedal rickshaws, goats, bicycles (goods carrying), handcarts, bicycles (passenger carrying), dogs, pedestrians. Notice that people are last!

1. WalMart is Arizona’s largest private employer, with with 17,343 employees in 2008.

1. Deer Valley Airport is the nation’s busiest general aviation airport without regularly scheduled commercial flights.

1. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adámas, meaning “proper,” “unalterable,” “unbreakable,” or “untamed.”

What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur? Brothers Matthew and Adam Toren, co-publishers of North Valley Magazine, have persevered and triumphed through a number of business ventures. They’ve taken many steps and paths in their successful careers, but it is their beginnings that have inspired their latest project: a book on entrepreneurship written specifically for children! The Toren brothers bring a fresh and enlightening perspective to business in the straightforward, easy-to-read original work, Kidpreneurs.

You don’t have to be a grownup to catch the entrepreneurial spirit, and you certainly don’t need to wait until adulthood to learn—or practice—the basic principles of business. It’s never too early! Matthew and Adam credit their families for encouraging their business ideas from a young age, and they wish to provide the world’s youth—the future generation of entrepreneurs—with not only encouragement but also the practical knowledge to begin, grow, and groom their business visions.

The brothers have spent years dedicated to researching the best practices in modern business and then teaching the techniques to others while establishing and maintaining their own steady stream of successful businesses. One of their passions has been to help ailing businesses by passing along their accumulated know-how. This entrepreneurial instinct, blended with an even measure of their altruistic natures, led the Torens to found YoungEntrepreneur.com, the largest and fastest growing social networking forum for young entrepreneurs.

When Matthew and Adam set out to pass on their business savvy to their own children, Kidpreneurs was born. The book stokes a child’s desire to get involved in business early by fueling their curiosity in simple, engaging, creative, and safe ways. It defines entrepreneur and other key business terms; breaks down the complex concepts to the practical, creative, and ethical sides of the business world; and articulates the important facts of modern business using colorful illustrations, fun facts, stimulating quizzes, and sample business plans.

The philosophy behind the book is simple: The future of our children begins with us! Children of all backgrounds have a right to financial freedom and the skills and tools by which they might obtain it.

You can begin an exciting business journey with your children with Kidpreneurs. A Web site has been set up to enrich and expand upon the book and its resources. Kidpreneurs can be purchased on the Web site.

Kidpreneurs is available at most bookstores and through kidpreneurs.org for $12.95.

By Scott Bohall

Okay, maybe you won’t actually find precious stones in your backyard, but Arizona does have some fantastic gems that most residents have never seen. On a recent trip to a shopping mall, a woman standing in front of a jewelry store asked if I would like to come in to see some great jewelry. The store was not busy, so I decided to see what she had that was so wonderful. She showed me a typical diamond ring that could be found anywhere and pushed hard to convince me that today was the day to treat my wife. I asked if she carried any Arizona gems, and she was very quick to tell me that only turquoise came from Arizona and my wife would not be happy with that.

Sadly, many people inside and outside the jewelry industry have no idea that some fantastic red garnets are mined by ants and left outside anthills here in Arizona. The anthill garnets are bright red but are rarely as large as one carat. Peridot is found in a couple of locations in Arizona, and the bright-green gem is selling well worldwide. An office I visit in Thailand specializes in Arizona peridot. Most of the peridot found in Arizona jewelry stores is, sadly, not from Arizona.

Amethyst from the famous Four Peaks mine not far from Fountain Hills is the only active amethyst mine in North America, yet most Arizona residents do not know about it. Fewer than one in twenty jewelers in Arizona carry the fine Arizona amethyst. Fire agate is one of my favorite gems and is prized in Asia and Germany, yet very few Arizona residents know that much of it is from our great state. Cave Creek produces a great reddish-orange jasper, and Prescott boasts zebra stone, malachite, and azurite from the copper areas of the state. Fossilized dinosaur bone is far more beautiful than it sounds. Gem silica has a blue color that makes you think vacation. There are many more, but indeed, the most talked-about Arizona gem is turquoise, and it is popular again. As with any gem, there are many varieties, qualities, and lookalikes. Reputable jewelers will either carry some Arizona gems or know how to get them.

Arizona has a great many beauties, and gems are among them.

By Alana Stroud

Sprint has decided to leave calling circles to the less sophisticated companies by introducing Any Mobile, Anytime. What does this mean for current and future Sprint customers? No more restrictions on whom they call, for starters. Any Mobile, Anytime means just that—unlimited calling, texting, and messaging from any phone to any wireless service at any time. It really is that simple.

With this wireless freedom, Sprint expects to appeal to the audiences that were previously or are currently tied to providers that allow them free minutes only to a “circle of friends.” Middle-market families with multiple lines will especially benefit from this new program. No more worrying about who has what carrier—and that equals roughly 250 million wireless customers you can contact without any penalties!

Any Mobile, Anytime is yet another groundbreaking industry decision by eSystems Management.

(623) 486-2552 or eprowireless.com

By Alana Stroud

Richard Pepper Fisher of Pepper’s Private Car Service has just set the industry standard for independent car services in the Northeast Valley. Pepper’s offers services like airport drop-offs and pickups, document couriers, golf course transport, and dining and drinking transport. Originating in Cave Creek, Pepper’s has now expanded to include Fountain Hills, Anthem, Deer Valley, Sun City, Avondale, Glendale, and Peoria.

Fisher came up with idea for Your Neighborhood Car Guy Network of Arizona because of the predicament that, as he says, “not all [car services] have a vehicle for every occasion or size.” The Network allows him, as well as all other services who subscribe, to refer out to one another while taking comfort that their customers will be handled by a company with safety, service, and customer values. The Network also provides free transportation for needy seniors as a way to give back to their communities.

To reserve a car or become a member of The Network, call (602) 501-3328 or check out pepperscarservice.com.

By Cassaundra Brooks

The Shops at Norterra continues to expand since its inception in April of last year and its quick transformation into a local hotspot for fashion, food, and fun. While it is home to a number of popular chains and original boutiques, the marketplace is also ideal for community events—and October and November welcome some great times for everyone. Take your special someone out for a fun yet inexpensive date night filled with live music and a tasty meal, escape housework for an hour and browse stands full of fresh foods, or spend time with your folks checking out some classic automobiles.

October 3 kicks off “Live Music Saturdays” at Norterra—a night of live music and special discounts at restaurants within the marketplace. This event runs from 7–9 p.m. and features a variety of music genres and artists.

October 7 begins the Norterra Farmer’s Market, which takes place the first and third Wednesdays of the month from October through May. Open from 3:30–7:30 p.m., the market offers booths of fresh produce, gifts, locally packaged goods, and live musicians playing as you take it all in.

October 9 marks the kick-off event for the Norterra Car Show. From 6–9 p.m., hit Main Street for live music, prize drawings, food sampling—yum!—and an impressive display of luxury and classic cars. Register your own car to be a part of the show at no cost!

October 24 is a can’t-miss charity event to benefit Hope 4 Women International. Art lovers will enjoy the art show while Blue Daddy Band serves up some blues music and guests partake of refreshments. Fifty pieces of art have already been donated. All proceeds will go toward relief efforts for widows in Africa.

Check out norterrashopping.com/calendar for a complete calendar of events, including details on performers and discounted restaurants and how to register your car for the Norterra Car Show.