A Christmas tree sits in many East Valley homes this weekend, some decorated tip to tree stand, brightly lit and ready for gifts.

When James Tanner started researching his family history nearly 30 years ago, his relatives told him that his grandparents already had compiled it, and the history was complete and accurate.

It’s taken a long time for Stewart Reeder to perfect his salsa recipe, a slow-simmered jalapeño blend developed from a salsa his mother made famous in the neighborhood.

Sept 1, 2004

Gary Bevirt’s great-greatgrandfather left a priceless gem for his family — a soldier’s diary from the Civil War.

Stephanie Mahan always liked history, but a school research project made it her passion. As part of a yearlong National History Day course at Chandler’s Basha High School, Stephanie researched how the Choctaw Indian tribe helped the Irish during the potato famine of the 1840s.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

Carl Hayden: Hayden is arguably the most important Arizonan ever. He began working in Washington, D.C., to secure water for the sparsely populated desert state in 1902 and became Arizona’s first congressman upon statehood. He was the son of Charles Trumbull Hayden, a Tempe founder, and helped transform the pioneer territory into a modern state. Hayden quietly worked on national parks, military affairs, Indian matters and was instrumental in winning the Central Arizona Project. The $4 billion CAP diverted Colorado River water to Phoenix and Tucson and was the largest, most expensive water project in U.S. history. His 56 years in Congress have been eclipsed only once.

The Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg simply can’t hold all the town’s history inside its walls. There is so much history in the Wickenburg area that the museum wants to share it through a series of outside-the-museum-walls adventure tours.

August 28, 2004

Current and former residents of five south Scottsdale subdivisions are being asked to dig through closets, file cabinets, storage boxes, photo albums and scrapbooks to aid a city research project.

About two weeks before a Chandler woman was slain at a Scottsdale shopping center, her estranged husband and accused killer made threats to shoot her, their children and then himself, according to court records.

July 22, 2004

In response to Peggy Peterson's commentary (Opinion 2, Aug. 15) opposing music concerts at Schnepf Farms:

Superman may be the most iconic of superheroes, providing people with a symbol of hope and setting an example for all mankind. But if you asked anyone who is the more interesting superhero, Batman or Superman, they would likely reply, “Batman,” in a heartbeat. But what is it that makes Batman so much more compelling than not just Superman, but Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman and various other superheroes? Is it because of his tragic past, dark persona, lack of superpowers, or endlessly impressive rouge gallery? That all certainly contributes to Batman’s appeal. On the whole though, Batman is all about great character development and storytelling. This is what has made Batman such an eternal character, from his first appearance in the comics to Christopher Nolan’s latest “Dark Knight” trilogy.

Superman may be the most iconic of superheroes, providing people with a symbol of hope and setting an example for all mankind. But if you asked anyone who is the more interesting superhero, Batman or Superman, they would likely reply, “Batman,” in a heartbeat.

Superman may be the most iconic of superheroes, providing people with a symbol of hope and setting an example for all mankind. But if you asked anyone who is the more interesting superhero, Batman or Superman, they would likely reply, “Batman,” in a heartbeat.

Part One of a Three-Day Series

With the recent release of the 1940 U.S. census — more than 132 million records needing to be digitally indexed for free public use — new information invaluable for family research is becoming available to genealogists.

Charles Monroe Blakely started selling Model T Fords from his Blakely Motor Co. in downtown Gilbert in 1919.