Soar into Spring Kite Festival; Fiesta de la Primavera; Prescott Highland Games; Payson Wildlife Fair

“I had no idea!”

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Arizona is an ideal place to utilize solar electricity. But the decision to invest in a solar installation on your home can be complicated.

A few toy cars, a couple of dolls, games, balls — even a bicycle — filled an old fire truck outside a Mesa store.

World of Beer Tempe is buying you a free beer as long as you bring in a holiday toy for a child in need.

Got someone at home interested in martial arts? Children and adults can try free karate, kickboxing, jiu jitsu and combat hapkido classes at the grand opening for Stand & Command Martial Arts, taking place Saturday, Dec. 1, at 1118 N. Recker Road, Mesa.

As we barrel down the two-lane road, historical markers tell us we are traveling along the original El Camino Real, the frontier wagon trail from Mexico City to Santa Fe. Dating to 1598, it is the oldest European-American trade route.

Mesa City Councilwoman Dina Higgins is auctioning off the “shovelbat” she used to help break ground for the Chicago Cubs spring training facility, with proceeds benefiting Sunshine Acres Children’s Home.

The Mesa United Way officially kicked off its 2012-2013 campaign Wednesday with a goal of raising $2.825 million to fund agencies that serve the community’s most vulnerable residents in need.

The Mesa United Way officially kicked off its 2012-2013 campaign Wednesday with a goal of raising $2.825 million to fund agencies that serve the community’s most vulnerable residents in need.

Keona Thurman knows how hard it is for some Mesa residents to pay their bills during these tough economic times. As a resource counselor for Salt River Project, she’s helped put customers struggling to pay their electric bills in touch with agencies that provide temporary utility assistance.

Keona Thurman knows how hard it is for some Mesa residents to pay their bills during these tough economic times. As a resource counselor for Salt River Project, she’s helped put customers struggling to pay their electric bills in touch with agencies that provide temporary utility assistance.

Performing Arts 2012-13 theater season preview

Sunshine Acres, a children’s home being run entirely off of donations, is one step closer to achieving its goal of being entirely solar, even as it continues to grow.

When my neighbor suggested we go one afternoon to the store at Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, I imagined a makeshift space filled with crocheted afghans and God’s eyes made of yarn and popsicle sticks.

“Jesus loves you and so do I.” After more than half a century, that still is a signature saying for Carl Heath, a familiar face and father figure in the East Valley who influenced the lives of hundreds of students at Mesa High School and those he’s prayed with and helped.

Fifth-grade students at Mesa’s Holmes and Longfellow elementary schools were given the chance to become philanthropists through a program funded by the Whiteman Foundation, which donated $100 to every student.

What started as a group of friends with a unique idea to raise money for charity has turned into a world-wide effort to help the less fortunate, and it's slowly spreading across the Valley.

Damien Widick grew up at Mesa's Sunshine Acres Children's Home, living in the home from when he was 11 until he joined the Marine Corp. and left for boot camp at 19.

The 14th annual Shootout for Sunshine, a golf event benefitting Mesa's Sunshine Acres Children's Home, will be hosted Friday by East Valley Charities and Longbow Business Park & Golf Club.