Several Mesa residents hit the road to ring in the new year. But they weren’t looking to take part in normal New Year’s festivities like watching television as a glass ball descended a pole in Times Square, watching fireworks or clinking champagne glasses.

iCoachBoomers and the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center announced that Glen Spencer will be a panelist for the expert-led workshop, Maximizing Entitlements, at "Boomers – Now What?” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at the VOSJCC on Scottsdale Road and Sweetwater in Scottsdale.

New York Times bestselling author James Rollins and co-writer Rebecca Cantrell will appear at the Poisoned Pen bookstore from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 9 to sign copies of “The Blood Gospel.”

Danny Zelisko presents Brian Setzer’s Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza, with special guest Totsy, at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Celebrity Theatre. 

The award-winning Desert Rose Theatre is following up last year’s big Rat Pack hit with a never-aired holiday television special featuring the Rat Pack and some special guest stars.

Einstein Bros Bagels and Noah’s New York Bagels will pay tribute to America’s veterans this year by offering a free Signature or Classic Bagel to all active, inactive and retired military personnel on Sunday.

Wendy’s Baconator is putting his offspring, Son of Baconator, to the test to see if he can earn his “strips” by touring America to find a league of Baconator-approved fans through the Ultimate Baconator Challenge.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are asking for your vote in order to win $25,000 in a nationwide challenge to save more lives.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are asking for your vote in order to win $25,000 in a nationwide challenge to save more lives.

Tempe police have identified the body of the man discovered in Tempe Town Lake Monday as Christopher Robin Gonzales, 34.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center hosts the third annual Enchanted Trail/Sendero Encantado from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

After learning about the events of Sept. 11, 2001, second graders at Apache Junction Unified School District's Four Peaks Elementary School felt compelled to do something.

Mosquito spraying is scheduled midnight Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday in a number of areas in Mesa.

Arizona has often been viewed as the state with the most options for school choice.

Learn more about the social and emotional needs of gifted children during the next quarterly meeting of the Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted. The event will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at Pioneer Elementary School, 1535 N. Greenfield Road in Gilbert, in the library. The guest speaker will be Joy Arnett, who will discuss how highly gifted children mature and what strengths and difficulties come with that. Arnett is a gifted coach who works with teachers in Gilbert schools. She also has five children and 16 grandchildren.

SAN DIEGO — Schools in Yakima, Wash., are taking nearly a month to deliver transcripts to former students. The Mexican consulate in Denver introduced Saturday hours last month after passport applications spiked by one-third. San Diego public schools added five employees in a new office to handle records requests.

The Ben Avery Clay Busters will host its second annual sporting clays tournament and fun shoot Oct. 6 as a benefit on behalf of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Arizona gas prices, and those across the country, may jump now that fuel production has taken a hit from Tropical Storm Isaac, AAA Arizona reported Monday.

Parents of special needs kids in Ahwatukee and surrounding communities are invited to have their special athletes take part in a new PONY baseball league.

Ballet Arizona presents the 15th annual Ballet Under the Stars Sept. 20-29. This sunset performance series is free and open to the public at six Valley locations.

Ballet Arizona presents the 15th annual Ballet Under the Stars Sept. 20-29. This sunset performance series is free and open to the public at six Valley locations.

Salt River Project is expanding a ban on employees using wireless communication devices while driving on company business to improve its safety measures.

Take a trip through time with some of the most memorable songs of “soul” musicals, both past and present.

Broadway Palm presents Take It to the Limit, a reverent tribute to the original that has faithfully, accurately recreated every detail of the famous Eagles’ hits.

Parents will find few states that offer families as many schooling options as Arizona does. A longtime leader in the national school choice movement, Arizona has an education marketplace with a school for just about any income, interest or situation. And nowhere in the state do options abound like they do in the East Valley.

From an extravaganza of hands-on activities and story reading to cool treats, Summer Sundays at the Heard Museum gives kids and families a cool and creative way to spend July Sundays.

A Peoria woman who went missing from her home last week has been found dead.

A Peoria woman who went missing from her home last week has been found dead.

Small business owners looking for new ideas to generate buzz and grow their brand have a local incubator at their disposal. After all, for many, the opportunity for startup business owners to be surrounded by other like-minded individuals who have the same entrepreneurial spirit is rare around these parts.

Small business owners looking for new ideas to generate buzz and grow their brand have a local incubator at their disposal. After all, for many, the opportunity for startup business owners to be surrounded by other like-minded individuals who have the same entrepreneurial spirit is rare around these parts.

John, Paul, George and Ringo will “return” to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre when the internationally acclaimed Beatles tribute band, The Return, performs at 7:30 p.m. June 5. 

John, Paul, George and Ringo will “return” to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre when the internationally acclaimed Beatles tribute band, The Return, performs at 7:30 p.m. June 5. 

John, Paul, George and Ringo will “return” to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre when the internationally acclaimed Beatles tribute band, The Return, performs at 7:30 p.m. June 5. 

What’s your favorite Arizona restaurant? Do you reward yourself by eating there after a hike? Will you drive 100 miles just for its desserts? Does your family rendezvous there from across the state? As “Check, Please! Arizona” prepares to shoot its third season, the Emmy Award-winning program is expanding its repertoire to include restaurants beyond the Phoenix area.

What’s your favorite Arizona restaurant? Do you reward yourself by eating there after a hike? Will you drive 100 miles just for its desserts? Does your family rendezvous there from across the state? As “Check, Please! Arizona” prepares to shoot its third season, the Emmy Award-winning program is expanding its repertoire to include restaurants beyond the Phoenix area.

The stage is set for a blockbuster summer at the Arizona Biltmore (www.arizonabiltmore.com).  Three of the biggest celebrity acts in Hollywood will rock the resort with performances, and the calendar will overflow with Hollywood-themed events and activities Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, at the Biltmore’s third annual “Hollywood & Wine” festival.

A 16-year-old Peoria girl has been reported missing, police said Tuesday morning.

The Flood Control District of Maricopa County will share its latest plan to reduce stormwater flood hazards in the far East Valley during a May 8 meeting in Queen Creek. The study covers a 58-square mile area that includes parts of Mesa, northern Queen Creek, and unincorporated areas of Maricopa and Pinal counties. It’s bounded roughly by Elliot Road, the Central Arizona Project Canal, Ocotillo Road, Rittenhouse Road, Power Road and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway.

All photographers — from novices to experienced shutterbugs and seasoned pros — are invited to check out Eight, Arizona PBS’s Capture My Arizona, an online community of people who love to take, share and publish their photos via capturemyarizona.com.

All photographers — from novices to experienced shutterbugs and seasoned pros — are invited to check out Eight, Arizona PBS’s Capture My Arizona, an online community of people who love to take, share and publish their photos via capturemyarizona.com.

Feeling fresh and spunky from their second-place victory and $2,000 prize at the Pro Roller Derby national banked track invitational tournament, the Arizona Derby Dames are ready to roll into their next regular season bout April 21 at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

Feeling fresh and spunky from their second-place victory and $2,000 prize at the Pro Roller Derby national banked track invitational tournament, the Arizona Derby Dames are ready to roll into their next regular season bout April 21 at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

No doubt the 1960s are long gone, but this year, the mods and the rockers are it again. Beatles vs. Stones — A Musical Shoot Out will pit Rolling Stones tribute band Jumping Jack Flash against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Green Room, 15 N. Agassiz St. in downtown Flagstaff.

No doubt the 1960s are long gone, but this year, the mods and the rockers are it again. Beatles vs. Stones — A Musical Shoot Out will pit Rolling Stones tribute band Jumping Jack Flash against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Green Room, 15 N. Agassiz St. in downtown Flagstaff.

Creative Stages Youth Theatre brings the classic tale of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ to life on stage Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m. beginning Friday through April 21.

Creative Stages Youth Theatre brings the classic tale of ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ to life on stage Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m. beginning Friday through April 21.

“All Through The Night,” winner of Best New Play in Chicago Award, premieres in Arizona at Theater Works beginning Friday. 

The Ahwatukee Foothills News and the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce invite the community to a public open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 at the newly renovated offices of the Ahwatukee Foothills News, 10631 S. 51st St., Suite 1, at 51st Street and Elliot Road. Free drinks, food and tours will be provided by local businesses as we launch the new “Main Street Ahwatukee,” published twice a month in the AFN.

According to a Bankers Life and Casualty Company survey, 70 percent of middle-class Baby Boomers fear they won't have enough cash to last through retirement. Too often, this fear leads seniors to make the decision to sacrifice better nutrition with fruits and vegetables for cheaper, less nutritional staples. Sweet Tomatoes wants to change that and help seniors living on a fixed income enjoy an affordable, nutritious meal.

According to a Bankers Life and Casualty Company survey, 70 percent of middle-class Baby Boomers fear they won't have enough cash to last through retirement. Too often, this fear leads seniors to make the decision to sacrifice better nutrition with fruits and vegetables for cheaper, less nutritional staples. Sweet Tomatoes wants to change that and help seniors living on a fixed income enjoy an affordable, nutritious meal.