By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Catholic Community Foundation’s Crozier Gala honors its roots Catholic Community Foundation welcomed or honored guests like Tony LaRussa, Derrick Hall and Erma Bombeck at its annual Crozier Gala in the last 30 years. This year, for the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Phoenix, the Crozier Gala’s theme is “Remembrance.” The gala, set for Saturday, April 27, at The Phoenician R ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Local musicians shred and sing for a good cause Well-known Cave Creek country singer Ryan Sims has spent the last year touring North American radio stations pushing his 2017 EP, “My Side of the Story.” Long gone are the regular gigs at Copper Blues or various restaurants around the Valley. But when the Cactus Shadows High School graduate returns home, he makes sure it’s for a g ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski David Peralta says the D-backs are on track for a championship Standing at his locker in the Salt River Fields clubhouse, Arizona Diamondbacks’ outfielder David Peralta smiles as he prepares for an interview. He’s unaware two players – pitchers Andrew Chafin and Zack Godley – are about to jump in. “Oh boy,” the North Valley resident says as Godley sticks a mic in his face while ...

By Laura Latzko Jeff Harris says goodbye during Sonoran Desert Chorale’s ‘Sing On’ show Jeff Harris has directed the Sonoran Desert Chorale since he founded the group 25 years ago. After the chorale’s “Sing On” concerts, he’s closing that chapter.  Recently, Harris retired from his position as director of choral activities at Westwood High School in Mesa, where he worked for 31 years. He has also stepp ...

By Laura Latzko Don Bluth brings Noel Coward’s spooky work to the stage  Shows exploring the other world and séances are often presented in a spooky way. In Noel Coward’s play “Blithe Spirit,” conjuring up spirits ensues in hilarity.  The Don Bluth Front Row Theatre will present the show through Saturday, May 4.  The company produced the show six years in the living room of Don Bluth, the theater’ ...

By Bridgette Redman  Dawnn Lewis hits the stage for ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ Dawnn Lewis has been defying conventions since she was a teenager and it has resulted in a long-lasting career that includes Broadway, television, composing, voice acting and songwriting. From April 25 to May 5, this former star of “A Different World”—and the composer of its theme song—will star as Muzzy in Scottsdale Theater Com ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ‘Live from Laurel Canyon’ breathes life into folk mainstays Brian Chartrand spent the summer of 2012 working as a cruise ship musician. To prepare for it, he needed to know 300 covers—even before he stepped foot on the boat. It took some preparation, as he chose tunes by artists like James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles. “It was a really good history lesson for me, ...

By Carrie Snider Luxury items play a part in posh patios Backyards in the Valley are some of the luckiest around. In many ways, they are an extension of the house itself—they are a great place for family and friends to spend time no matter the month of the year. Take springtime. Temperatures are just right for some outdoor parties complete with ample seating, food hot off the grill, and plenty of landscapin ...

By Alison Stanton Retractable screens and awnings add comfort and value to homes Here in the aptly named Valley of the Sun, the constant beating of the sun’s hot rays can wreak havoc on homes, making air conditioners work overtime and causing exterior paint to fade. As Ken Pesho notes, his family-owned and -operated business, All Seasons Retractables, is ready, willing and able to help bring homes and their ...

Southwest Shakespeare Company hosts Naked Shakes at Taliesin West By Niki D’Andrea William Shakespeare’s history plays dramatize five generations of Medieval power struggles. If someone were to watch stagings of all of them in a row, they would be sitting still for almost 24 hours straight. That sounds like Medieval torture. Thankfully, professor Irwin Appel has taken eight of the Bard’s historical plays an ...

Spartan Home Services offers interior and exterior cleaning By Eric Newman When David Hartman moved to Anthem from northern Michigan with his fiancée Carmen Jordan, they had one goal: Keep the north Phoenix area beautiful. They aim to do it one property at a time. With children already living in the area, and wishing to find warmer weather, the pair settled in the Valley in July and opened Spartan Home Serv ...

Five of the North Valley’s hottest neighborhoods By Sherry Jackson Union Park at Norterra It’s no secret that the real estate market in the Valley is booming. New business announcements, corporate headquarter relocations and expansions have been fueling this growth for the past several years. New home developers can barely keep up with demand. Everyone, it seems, wants to move to the North Valley. More than ...

A-Authentic Garage Doors builds solid reputation and plans expansion By Lauren Wise A garage door is one of those things that tends to reveal its true necessity only when it’s not working properly. Whether broken, damaged by a wayward emergency break – or the illusion that the garage is already open, as has happened to this writer – or squeaks so loudly you put mousetraps in the garage corners, you’re in a ...

Owner of KW Styling Studio finds fulfillment in helping clients look their best By Alison Stanton Kristy Wallace knew from a very early age that she wanted to go to cosmetology school and get into the beauty industry. “Growing up, I was always into makeup and hair,” Wallace says. “Between painting my dog’s nails and always being the friend who styled everyone’s hair and did their makeup, I knew it was my ca ...

Jake Potje and Susan Morrow Potje connect artists and collectors By Lauren Wise For almost 30 years, the Valley has hosted one of the country’s premier art events: the Celebration of Fine Art. Sprawled under white tents in Scottsdale from January to March, this juried, invitational show and art sale showcases over 100 artists from around the country, who continuously create and sell their pieces from within ...