Joseph Specter is excited about his move to Phoenix to assume the helm as president and general director of Arizona Opera. His wife, Kate, spent her childhood in the Valley until the age of 10, so it’s a homecoming of sorts for the Specters and their two daughters, Sophie (8 years old) and Charlotte (4…
One Sunday night a month during the school year, 15 middle school students from across the Valley set aside homework, family, friends and social media to bring joy to the residents of The Palazzo (formerly Brookdale Christown) senior center, where they focused on a different kind of screen time. It was a monthly highlight for…
Launching a nonprofit was not part of her original plan, but Barbara Baroff Kavanagh graciously accepted it as her calling, due to life’s unexpected circumstances. After more than a decade the Glendale-based Arizona Myeloma Network (azmyelomanetwork.org), which she founded in 2004, continues to thrive, providing a variety of free educational and awareness events to those…
Immediately following the Six-Day War I doubt anyone thought the West Bank, seized in the fighting with Jordan, which occupied it at the time, would still be largely held by Israel nearly 50 years later. (I am not referring to people whose religious beliefs regard the conquering of Judea and Samaria, the historical birthplace of…
I was at a bat mitzvah party and the kids were playing musical chairs. One little girl got out early in the game and started to cry. It made me sad, so I jumped in and tried to pull my kid out of his chair while pulling her into his chair to take his spot,…
When the temperatures reach triple digits consistently, the best way to find some relief is to hit the water. Here are some places where you can cool off. COMMUNITY AQUATIC CENTERS Cities open their pools in the summer for lessons and public swim time. These centers offer a variety of activities for visitors in the…
Ever dreamed of being a mermaid (or merman)? Two Scottsdale resorts offer mermaid classes to make that dream come true for guests staying onsite. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 7575 E Princess Dr., Scottsdale 480-513-6014 or [email protected] Children ages 7-12 can flip their fins with Moon, the resort’s resident mermaid. Each 90-minute experience includes a monofin mermaid…
When the mercury climbs during the day, desert dwellers turn nocturnal. Here are some warm weather events happening in the cool of the night. Head to a higher elevation Movies on the Square (5 pm activities; movies 7:30-8 pm Saturdays through Sept 3). Each evening begins with entertainment from the community, music and a movie…
With summer now here, it is vacation time! Wherever you are headed, there is bound to be a Jewish community waiting to welcome you. And summer is a great time to explore those communities with your family. We have put together a sampling of Jewish events in popular vacation destinations this summer. Orange County, CA…
Whether you spend your summer lounging by the pool or on the beach, camping in the mountains or relaxing at home, a good book can enhance your pleasure. Here is a selection of the books that have come across my desk in recent months. I’ve dipped into a few while compiling this listing and have…
