Sushi Speak - 202 Magazine

CHANDLER 

Meet the 

Lucky Local 

Sushi 

Speak 

Fish, Rolls, and the 

Fine Art of Using 

Chopsticks 

QUEEN 

CREEK’S 

TOP BASEBALL 

PLAYERS 

MARCH 2011 

202magazine.com 

Pinball 

Wizards 

TEMPE’S KATEY TROWBRIDGE 

PLAYS TO WIN

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Scottsdale Medical Imaging, Now Open in Gilbert 

For 30 years Scottsdale has had good reason to smile. Now Gilbert does, 

too. Scottsdale Medical Imaging is proud to announce a new Southeast 

Valley location adjacent to the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. 

SMIL offers full service medical imaging including breast, musculoskeletal, 

neurologic, oncologic, cardiac and bone density screening. So whether it’s 

time to schedule your annual mammogram, your child needs an X-ray, or 

you have an undiagnosed sports injury – you can trust the experts at SMIL. 

We offer clinical excellence, state-of-the-art medical imaging technology 

and physicians whose utmost priority is impeccable care. 

We invite you to come see us. For an appointment, visit your doctor then 

call SMIL at 480.425.5030. 

esmil.com

Winning 

Over 

Cancer 

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Gregory A. Maggass, MD 

Scott P. Tannehill, MD 

Luci M. Chen, MD 

Farley E. Yang, MD 

20950 N. 29th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027 

9055 E. Del Camino Drive, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 

3645 S. Rome Street, Suite 116, Gilbert, AZ 85297 

Copyright © 2010, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

6 

Contents 

26 30 

CHANDLER 

Meet the 

Lucky Local 

Sushi 

Speak 

Fish, Rolls, and the 

Fine Art of Using 

Chopsticks 

� 

QUEEN 

CREEK’S 

TOP BASEBALL 

PLAYERS 

MARCH 2011 


Pinball 

Wizards 

TEMPE’S KATEY TROWBRIDGE 

PLAYS TO WIN 

ON THE COVER 

Katey Towbridge 

Hair & makeup by 

Kristy Scott, 

Brilliant Studio 

Photo by Mark Susan 

202 MAGAZINE \ MARCH 2011 \ 202magazine.com 

26 

FEATURES 

PINBALL WIZARDS 

Old school machines inspire East Valley 

collectors, gamers. 

32 

30 AZFAME 

Local filmmakers bring Arizona entertainment 

Industry together.

8 

Contents 

REGULARS 

10 

12 

16 

18 

22 

FAMILY 

32 

33 

34 

35 

202 EDITOR’S WORDS 

greetings and salutations 

202 BUZZ 

chatter around the loop 

202 NOTABLES 

hot stuff around the loop 

202 SCENE 

seen around the loop 

202 CALENDAR 

happening around the loop 

202 PARENTHOOD 

Mesa’s Bond family on 

childhood obesity 

202 MOMS 

For her 

202 DADS 

For him 

202 KIDS 

For them 

COMMUNITY 

36 

38 

40 

42 

202 NEIGHBORS 

Meet Gilbert’s Ben Andrus 

202 SCOREBOARD 

3 standout Queen Creek High 

varsity baseball players 

202 HEROES 

Group extends help to single 

moms with cancer 

202 SENIORS 

Activities to keep seniors on 

the move 

HEALTH 

44 

46 

48 

50 


202 FITNESS 

Mesa’s Tomo Jahn firms up 

202 NUTRITION 

The benefits of 

Crockett’s Honey 

202 BEAUTY 

Hair trends for spring 

202 WELLNESS 

Feeling good with arthritis 

BEST OF THE LOOP 

52 

58 

61 

62 

202 STYLE 

Moms celebrate the beauty 

of new life 

202 LIVING 

Chandler’s Lucky Local, 

Fawn Cheng 

202 FUN 

Tempe’s salsa challenge 

gets fired up 

202 DINE 

Sushi speak with 3 East 

Valley chefs 

33 

52 

38

202 EDITOR’S WORDS / 

10 

Hometown Talent 

THE WARM RECEPTION we received from last month’s premier issue of 

202 Magazine was more than I could ever hope for. Thank you so much 

for all your comments and suggestions, and for taking the time to weigh 

in on the first issue – both via email and on our Facebook page. 

One thing that has struck me about 202 Magazine is the feeling of 

camaraderie and sense of community that’s been created during production. 

From our fantastic local photographers and writers to all the people 

who’ve put forth their efforts in these pages, it’s truly amazing to see 

such hometown talent in action. 

Know this magazine is an extension of you – our readers –and we 

want to incorporate the stories and photos you want to read about and 

see in your community magazine. This brings to mind one of my favorite 

quotes, “Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you give it.” 

While I’m not sure who originally came up with it, it’s one of those great 

truths in life; it’s also one of my personal philosophies and one of the 

guiding principles behind the magazine. 

With that in mind, please sit back and watch your community in 

action. From our cover story on pinball wizards, to our new monthly feature 

“Lucky Local,” we hope you enjoy this issue. Meanwhile, find us at 

Facebook/202Magazine to get community updates and for info on how 

you could be selected as an upcoming “Lucky Local.” 


Cheers, 

Sondra Barr 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

sondra@202magazine.com 

MARCH 2011, VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 

PUBLISHER 

Joe Bocker 

joe@keekapubs.com 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Sondra Barr 


ART DIRECTION 

Veronica Romero 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

Tom Rodriguez, Veronica Romero 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Pam Cole, Frank Divers, Rita Templeton, 

Brooke Romney, Heather Sanders, Emily Sepulveda 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

David Alley, Sam Evans, Barney Kahn, Carlee Komar, 

Monica Petrova, Mark Susan, Laura Winslow 

CIRCULATION 

Aaron Kolodny 

AZ Integrated Media 

480.346.2175 

aaron@azintegratedmedia.com 

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER 

Jami Lindberg 

ADVERTISING INFORMATION 

480.353.1703 

joe@keekapubs.com 

114 West Erie Drive 

Tempe, Arizona 85282 

Phone: 480.353.1703 / Fax: 480.287.9880 


202 Magazine, is published 12 times per year by Keeka 

Publications, Inc., 114 West Erie Drive, Tempe, Arizona 

85282. Copyright ©2009 by Keeka Publications, Inc. 

Publisher assumes no liability for loss or damage of 

unsolicited material, advertising or editorial. All rights 

reserved. Reproduction or use in whole, or part, in any 

manner without permission is strictly prohibited. 

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information 

contained in 202 Magazine is accurate and complete, 

no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions. 202 

Magazine provides information in articles such as phone 

numbers, times, prices, etc. as service to our readers. All 

information has been researched and checked for accuracy 

at press time. We are not responsible for any changes or 

variances in information following publication.

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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for helpful hints, 

healthy recipes and exclusive offers.

202 BUZZ / chatter around the loop 

12 

mesa 

chandler 

The Chandler Police Department 

is accepting applications 

for its Volunteers in Policing 

program. The program offers 

several areas where volunteers 

may assist including chaplain, 

dispatch aide, DUI task force, 

explorer advisor, fingerprint 

services, general clerical assistant, 

fleet assist, motorist 

assist, and victim services. To 

be a volunteer, you must be 


CHRISTA MUSSI ONE OF COUNTRY’S TOP 10 

SCHOOL COUNSELORS 

The American School Counselor Association 

honored Christa Mussi as one of the top 

10 school counselors in the United States. 

Mussi works at Mesa’s Washington Elementary 

and Dobson High. She is also president 

of the Arizona School Counselor Association. 

“It’s a privilege to serve as a counselor 

in Mesa Public Schools,” says Mussi. “School 

counselors help students develop academic, 

career, personal and social skills.” 

CHANDLER POLICE SEEK VOLUNTEERS 

CHANDLER PICKED FOR $5 BILLION INTEL PLANT 

Intel plans to invest $5 billion in a new Chandler 

factory that company officials say will be the most 

advanced and highest-volume computer chip factory 

in the world. The news was announced by Intel CEO 

Paul Otellini during a visit by President Barack Obama 

at an Intel plant in Hillsboro, Oregon last month. Besides 

employing 1,000 permanent workers, thousands 

of temporary construction jobs will be generated. Already 

Chandler’s biggest employer of 1,000 high-wage 

jobs, it is estimated that each Intel position creates 

three other jobs in the Valley. 

21 years old, and complete the 

police department’s volunteer 

academy. The academy is held 

Tuesday and Thursday evenings 

beginning March 22 and ending 

April 14 with one Saturday class 

on April 2. After graduation, 

volunteers will receive 50 hours 

of hands-on field training. For 

more information, call Melanie 

Slate at (480) 782-4332 or visit 

policevolunteers.org/programs/.

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202 BUZZ / chatter around the loop 

14 

tempe 

gilbert 

SCOTTSDALE MEDICAL IMAGING 

EXPANDS SERVICE TO GILBERT 

Scottsdale Medical Imaging, Ltd. (SMIL), the Valley’s largest 

private radiology practice, recently opened a location in 

Gilbert, further expanding the company’s presence in the 

Valley. The new imaging center, located adjacent to Mercy 

Gilbert Medical Center, provides a wide spectrum of imaging 

services to the Southeast Valley community including 

MRI, PET-CT, Ultrasound, X-Ray, Nuclear Medicine, bone 

density (DEXA) screening, digital mammography, and breast 

biopsy services. SMIL employs 20 full-time medical professionals 

at its 3645 S. Rome St., Suite 101, Gilbert location. 

For more information, visit eSMIL.com or call (480) 425-5000. 

queen creek 


SOLAR PANELS FOR TEMPE BEACH PARK 

Tempe is installing solar panels at Tempe Beach Park to promote 

green energy, along with Arizona Public Service. The utility company 

chose the Tempe site, along with three others around the Valley, 

in a statewide competition to locate solar panels in prominent 

places. The panels will replace a shade structure now covered with 

a blue canvas, near a play area. A new structure will support the 

panels, and signs will be nearby outlining how the panels turn sun 

into electricity. Tempe will spend $50,000 on the panels, with the 

remainder of the cost paid for by the American Recovery and Reinvestment 

Act. The project’s expected completion date is Earth Day, 

April 22, according to Tempe spokeswoman Amanda Nelson. 

QCPAC HOLDS AUDITIONS FOR ANNIE 

The Queen Creek Performing Arts Center will hold auditions 

for its June production of Annie on the following dates: April 

14, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (kids and teens only). April 15, 5:30 

p.m. – 8:30 p.m. April 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Starting April 4 at 

9 a.m., you can call the box office at (480) 987-7469 or email 

cwebb@qcusd.org to sign up for an audition time slot. Be prepared 

to sing a short selection of music. PCPAC is located at 

22149 E. Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek.

202 NOTABLES / hot stuff around the loop 

16 

WORDS BY SONDRA BARR 

RidePlus Offers 

Seniors Mobility 

Seniors with limited driving abilities have 

an alternative way to get to the grocery 

store, doctor’s appointments, and regular 

activities without relying on family, taxis, 

or community shuttle services. Ride- 

Plus offers service that extends beyond 

standard transportation. Available with a 

helping hand during outings, drivers are 

trained in passenger assistance safety 

and sensitivity, CPR, first aid, and senior 

mobility. Doubling as personal attendants 

and friends, drivers offer door-thrudoor 

care, arm-assisted aid, help carrying 

bags or entering/exiting the vehicle, and 

companionship for seniors while at their 

destination, if desired. Service is offered seven days a week, including nights and weekends, and reservations are accepted. 

To learn more about RidePlus or to make a reservation, call 1-877-743-3090, or visit rideplus.net. 

Holding Pattern 

With designer cupcakes all the rage, Cake Hole Project owners Vicki 

Anderson and Raymond Garcia pooled their talents to create unique 

stands and hanging holders to showcase the frosted treats. Incorporating 

materials such as frosted Plexiglas, stainless steel, copper, and resin, 

their eclectic works of art showcase all sorts of items and are available 

for sale and as rental pieces for events such as weddings, birthdays, and 

corporate gatherings. (602) 909-6118. cakeholeproject.com. 


Slick Chick 

MoroccanOil Treatment is the 

must-have product in the East Valley. 

The ultra-light formula revives 

and hydrates damaged, overprocessed 

hair. Instantly absorbed 

by hair, a small dab applied to 

wet locks is all that’s needed to 

give you a natural, silky finish and 

shine without a sticky residue. To 

control frizz and protect hair from 

environmental damage throughout 

the day, apply a few drops 

as needed and voila, beautiful 

tresses. Available at select hair 

salons, including Brilliant Studio, 

1401 E. Williamsfield Rd. Suite 19, 

Gilbert. (480) 321-7656.

Plush Petals 

Stylized bouquets and unique floral arrangements are the signature 

of Zuzu’s Petals, a small flower shop in Historic Downtown 

Mesa. Their abundant supply of vintage and unique 

containers, paired with fresh, hand-selected flowers arranged 

by one of the three owners, results in extraordinary creations 

bursting with energy and emotion. Zuzu’s Petals, 40 N. Mac- 

Donald St. Mesa. (480) 969-9898. zuzuspetalsaz.com. 

hot stuff around the loop / 202 NOTABLES / 

Retail Therapy 

Romantic accessories and fashions 

await shoppers at Domestic 

Bliss, a boutique that first opened 

in Mesa in 1999. From lavish 

linens and eclectic frocks to 

reclaimed antiques uncovered in 

interesting spots, there’s a story 

behind every item in this quaint 

downtown Mesa shop. The store 

also has an online version that 

carries an edited selection of 

their wares, like luxurious Bella 

Notte linens. Domestic Bliss, 166 

W. Main St., Mesa. (480) 733-0552. 

domesticblissdesign.com. 

Now Seating 

Savor your own piece of the Herberger Theater Center by 

having your name engraved on a seat in the newly renovated 

theater. Naming a seat is a way to acknowledge your support 

of the Herberger Theater Center or to honor or remember 

a special individual. Your inscription will be engraved on 

a plaque that is permanently affixed on the arm of a theater 

seat. Seats are located in center stage and stage west, and 

price varies depending on theater and seat location. Cost is 

$250 – $1,500 per seat and all contributions are tax-deductible. 

Call (602) 254-7399 x 105, or visit herbergertheater.org. 

202magazine.com / MARCH 2011 / 202 MAGAZINE 

17

202 SCENE / seen around the loop 

18 

“Speed Dating Docs” a Big Hit 

On Jan. 22, Banner Ironwood Medical Center held “Speed Dating Docs,” a special event where women had the 

chance to meet and privately interview several OB/GYN physicians at their new facility located at 37000 N. Gantzel 

Rd., Queen Creek. 

Jenneh and Alex Figureoa 

Kara Allred 


Cambree Clare and Dr. Natasha Laird 

PHOTOS BY SAM EVANS 

Ashley and Rylee Powell, 

Dr. Valencia Stephens 

Vicky Folau

seen around the loop / 202 SCENE / 

Little Black Dress Club Makes a Debut Splash 

The Little Black Dress Club held its first event on Jan. 25 at Blue Wasabi at SanTan Village in Gilbert. A national 

women’s social club, Queen Creek resident and Chapter Director Janae King’s goal is to bring women together for 

fun experiences. 

Little Black Dress Group 

Siiri Cole and Kara Gray 

Kristin Tackatt 

Rebecca Propes, Jami Lindberg, 

Carlee Komar 

Dianne Leck and 

Rosa Rualus 


Janae King and Erine Woodruff 

Jocelyn Sobeck, Krista Ganley, Rosa Rualus, 

Janae King, Dianne Leck and others 


19

202 SCENE / seen around the loop 

20 

Girls’ Night Out Rocks 

On Feb. 3, Designer Blvd. held a Girls’ Night Out, complete with decorating classes, door prizes, and dessert. The 

store is located at 4895 S. Higley Rd., Gilbert. 

Colleen Olsen and Carol Hatch (owner) 

Allison Elcock 

Barbara Pierini 


Emily Langen 

Genna Priest 

PHOTOS BY CARLEE KOMAR 

Alex Viranontes 

Erin Wagel and Elizabeth Carleton

Fresh Start Fashion Gala 

seen around the loop / 202 SCENE / 

It was a fashionable affair at the 15th Annual Fresh Start Fashion Gala on Feb. 12. Guests enjoyed a silent auction, 

dinner, and a showing of Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2011 Collection. Newscaster Katie Couric hosted the sold out 

event that helps fund programs for women around the Loop 202 and beyond. 

Billie Jo, Judd Herberger 

Sondra Barr, Katie Couric 

Oscar de la Renta’s 

Fall 2011 Collection 

Oscar de la Renta’s 

Fall 2011 Collection 

Michelle King Robson 

PHOTOS BY MONICA PETROVA 

Kathy Tilque Carol Clemmensen and Dyan Haugen 


21

202 CALENDAR / happening around the loop 

22 

March 2011 

ARIZONA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 

THROUGH APRIL 3: A medieval 

village teeming with costumed 

characters, live shows, rides, shops 

and other attractions, including a 

12-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an 

arts and crafts fair, and jousting. $11 

– $21. 12601 E. Highway 60, Apache 

Junction. (520) 463-2700. royalfaires. 

com/arizona/. 

HELLO DOLLY! 

THROUGH APRIL 2: Winner of 10 

Tony awards, “Hello Dolly!” is the story 

of matchmaker Dolly Levi and her 

efforts to marry Horace Vandergelder, 

the well-known half millionaire. This 

classic musical will transport you 

back in time, to a place filled with 


love, laughter, and songs you’ll never 

forget. $24. 7:30 p.m. 11 a.m. 50 W. 

Page Ave., Gilbert. (480) 497-1181. 

haletheatrearizona.com. 

EAST VALLEY CAR SHOW 

EVERY FRIDAY: Check out the 

wheels, from classic oldies to 

smoking ‘vettes and everything in 

between, or bring your cool car and 

put it on display. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Free. Fulton Ranch Towne Center, 

Arizona Ave. and Ocotillo Rd., 

Chandler. (623) 582-9599. fultonranchshopping.com/townecenter/. 

GILBERT FARMERS’ MARKET 

EVERY SATURDAY: Happening 

every Saturday of the month, the 

{AMOCOCO 

MARCH 11 – 20: From the 

Guggenheim in Spain to the 

Sydney Opera House in Australia, 

the enormous, interactive 

sculpture of Architects of 

Air have astounded audiences 

across the globe. This luminarium 

is a dazzling maze of 

winding paths and soaring 

domes where Islamic architecture, 

Archimedeam solids, and 

Gothic cathedrals meld into 

an inspiring monument to the 

beauty of light and color. To 

ensure your participation, it is 

advisable that you pre-order 

your tickets online. $5. Call for 

times. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. 

Main St., Mesa. (480) 644-6500. 

mesaartscenter.com. 

� 

Gilbert 

Farmer’s 

Market

newly opened Gilbert Farmers’ 

Market is your place for fresh 

produce, arts and crafts, and a 

great way to enjoy your neighbors. 

Free. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at the 

downtown Park and Ride, 222 N. 

Ash St. gilbertfarmersmarket.com. 

MILL AVENUE FARMERS’ MARKET 

EVERY SUNDAY: The Mill Avenue 

Farmers’ Market is a weekly 

showcase of unique perishable 

and consumable goods located in 

the heart of Tempe. They offer a 

festive, lively, friendly, and happening 

open-air market where growers, 

residents, and businesses come 

together to offer fresh products to 

a local audience. Free. 9 a.m. – 2 

p.m. 6th Street Plaza, Mill Ave. and 

6th St. 

CINDERELLA 

MARCH 5 – MAY 21: The timeless 

tale of a young girl, her fairy 

godmother, and one enchanted 

morning you’ll never forget. With 

the wave of a wand, your children 

will be transported into a world 

of magic mice, pumpkin coaches, 

and zany stepsisters. Packed with 

quirky, colorful characters, toetapping 

songs and superb dancing, 

this charming fairy tale will delight 

children of all ages. $14. 11 a.m. 50 

W. Page Ave., Gilbert. (480) 497- 

1181. haletheatrearizona.com. 

ALL SHOOK UP 

MARCH 9: It’s a square little town 

until a motorcycle ridin’, guitar 

playin’ and hip swivelin’ hunk rides 

in and has everyone jumpin’ out of 

their blue suede shoes. This show 

is a must see. “All Shook Up” is 

from the same production company 

that brought us “The Wedding 

Singer” and “Footloose.” The story 

is all-new, the music is all Elvis. 

$21 – $35. 7:30 p.m. Queen Creek 

Performing Arts Center, 22149 E. 

Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek. (480) 

987-7469. qcpac.com. 

FAIRY TALES AND FANTASY 

BALLET 

MARCH 10: “Fairy Tales and Fantasy” 

is a night of highlights from 

the stage’s most popular and suc- 

happening around the loop / 202 CALENDAR / 

cessful ballets. The dancers 

will delight audiences with 

favorite scenes from “Cinderella,” 

“Sleeping Beauty,” 

“Paquita,” and “La Bayadere.” 

BYU’s critically acclaimed 

ballet company brings these 

stories to life, stepping onto 

the stage as if right out of 

the storybook. $15 – $18. 7 

p.m. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. 

Main St., Mesa. (480) 644- 

6500. mesaartscenter.com. 

CHANDLER OSTRICH 

FESTIVAL 

MARCH 11 – 13: Celebrate 

ostriches in Chandler’s history 

with ostrich races and 

other attractions, including 

two stages spotlighting a 

diverse sampling of great 

music. $7 – $10, general admission; 

$20, all-day carnival 

ride pass. Fri, 2 p.m. – 12 

a.m. Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. – 

11 p.m. Tumbleweed Park, 

2250 S. McQueen Rd. (480) 

963-4571. ostrichfestival.com. 

� 

AMOCOCO 

MARCH 11 – 20: From the Guggenheim 

in Spain to the Sydney Opera 

House in Australia, the enormous, 

interactive sculpture of Architects 

of Air have astounded audiences 

across the globe. This luminarium 

is a dazzling maze of winding paths 

and soaring domes where Islamic 

architecture, Archimedeam solids, 

and Gothic cathedrals meld into an 

inspiring monument to the beauty 

of light and color. To ensure your 

participation, it is advisable that 

you pre-order your tickets online. $5. 

Call for times. Mesa Arts Center, 1 

E. Main St., Mesa. (480) 644-6500. 

mesaartscenter.com. 

2ND FRIDAY NIGHT OUT 

MARCH 11: Enjoy the popular 

monthly “2nd Friday” event 

where downtown Mesa is filled 

with shopping, dining, and several 

entertainment options. Free. 6 

p.m. – 10 p.m. Festivities on Main 

Street between Center Street and 

Country Club in downtown Mesa. 

2ndfridaynightout.com. 

Cinematic 

Titanic 

CINEMATIC TITANIC 

MARCH 12: “Cinematic Titanic” is 

the new feature-length movie riffing 

the show from the creator and 

original cast of “Mystery Science 

Theater 3000.” Like MST3K, the 

show was created by Joel Hodgson 

and features the same team that first 

brought the Peabody award winning 

cult classic series to life. “Cinematic 

Titanic” continues the tradition of 

riffing on ‘the unfathomable,’ ‘the 

horribly great,’ and the just plain 

“cheesy” movies from the past. $40. 

4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Mesa Arts 

Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. (480) 

644-6500. mesaartscenter.com. 

19TH ANTIQUE ENGINE & 

TRACTOR SHOW 

MARCH 12 – 13: The Arizona Early 

Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association 

hosts its spring show. 

More than 200 tractors, manufactured 

between 1920 and 1960 will 

be on display. In addition to the 

tractors, there will be a number 

of antique engines on display, as 

well as a threshing machine and 

several antique trucks. Most are in 

working order and will be cranked 

up for demonstrations. Free. 9 a.m. 


23

202 CALENDAR / happening around the loop 

24 

– 4 p.m. Apache Junction Rodeo 

Park, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd., 

Apache Junction. (480) 895-7316. 

ARIZONA ALOHA FESTIVAL 

MARCH 12 – 13: Take in the sights 

and sounds of the Arizona Aloha 

Festival, a celebration of Hawaii. 

The festival features three stages: 

Mountain, Lakeside, and Discovery. 

Fire dances and other Polynesian 

delights await visitors. Free. 10 

p.m. – 5 p.m. Tempe Beach Park, 

80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 

azalohafest.org 

UNSTOPPABLE ME 

MARCH 12: Join the musical fun 

as two young kids, their parents, 

and a magical bird discover how 

to hold onto no-limit thinking 

rather than just trying to “fit 

� 

Arizona Aloha Festival 

in.” Through their adventure, 

everyone learns to truly enjoy 

life and become unstoppable as 

they strive to reach their dreams. 

Don’t miss this new musical full 

of fantastic songs that celebrate 

the unstoppable you. 2 p.m. 

$12.75. Queen Creek Performing 

Arts Center, 22149 E. Ocotillo 

Rd., Queen Creek. (480) 987-7469. 

qcpac.com. 


VICKIE WINANS LIVE 

IN CONCERT 

MARCH 12: The name 

“Winans” and gospel 

music are synonymous 

and Vickie Winans 

definitely lives up to 

her name after 25 

years of continuously 

singing the good 

news of Jesus Christ. 

The captivating vocals 

of this multitalented 

artist are like a soulful, 

fine tuned instrument 

that piques the emotions, 

and uplifts the spirit. Vickie lends 

a high-powered, energetic, yet 

smooth and inspirational style as 

showcased in all her Grammy-nominated, 

Stellar Award and NAACP 

award winning albums. $25. 7 p.m. 

Chandler Center for the Arts, 

250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 

(480) 782-2680. chandlercenter.org. 

AMERICA’S FAVORITE COW- 

BOYS – RIDERS IN THE SKY 

MARCH 13: Riders in the Sky 

are truly exceptional! For 30 

years these Grammy award 

winners have been reviving 

and revitalizing the comedy 

& western genre with their 

own legendary wacky humor 

and way-out Western wit. 

They were the first 

exclusively western 

music artists to join 

the Grand Ol’ Opry 

Radio Show. Riders 

performed “Woody’s 

Round Up” in “Toy 

Story 2,” with the 

album of the same 

name, garnering 

Riders their first 

Grammy Award in 2001 for 

“Best Musical Album for 

Children.” Two years later, 

Riders roped their second 

Grammy in the same category, 

for “Monsters Inc.” 

$26 – $38. 3 p.m. Chandler 

Center for the Arts, 250 

N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 


� 

19th Antique Engine 

& Tractor Show 

FRANK SINATRA JR. 

MARCH 19: Born into the household 

of one of the most popular 

singers in the world, Frank Sinatra 

Jr. recalls wanting to become a piano 

player and songwriter from his 

earliest days. By his early teens he 

was performing at local clubs and 

venues and at age 19 he became 

the vocalist for Sam Donahue’s 

band. He also spent considerable 

time with Duke Ellington, learning 

the music business. While easily 

one of the best vocalists working 

today in his own right, it is the 

nostalgia for his father’s immortal 

work that ensures that there will 

always be a packed house whenever 

Frank Sinatra Jr. takes the 

stage. $46 – $64. 7:30 p.m. Chandler 

Center for the Arts, 250 N. 

Arizona Ave., Chandler. (480) 782- 

2680. chandlercenter.org. 

� 

Riders in the Sky

RICKY SKAGGS & KENTUCKY 

THUNDER 

MARCH 26: Sometimes in life, 

things come full circle. That’s the 

story of Ricky Skaggs. By age 21, he 

was already considered a “recognized 

master” of one of America’s 

most demanding art forms, but 

his career took him in other directions, 

catapulting him to popularity 

and success in the mainstream of 

country music. Now the road has 

brought him back to where it all 

began - bluegrass music. With eight 

consecutive Grammy-nominated 

classics behind him the bluegrass 

music genre is undoubtedly in good 

hands with the masterful Skaggs at 

the helm. Chandler Center for the 

Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 


34TH ANNUAL TEMPE SPRING 

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 

MARCH 25 – 27: The Tempe 

Festival of the Arts consistently 

ranks among the Top 20 art 

festivals in the nation by Sunshine 

Artist and has received the 

Pinnacle Award from the International 

Festival and Events Association. 

While the Tempe Festival 

of the Arts focuses on visual art 

and the artists that create it, 

there’s also wine and beer tasting, 

street performers, vendors, 

and live entertainment. Free. 10 

a.m. – dusk. Mill Avenue, 310 S. 

Mill Ave., Tempe. (602) 997-2581. 

tempefestivalofthearts.com. 

CHANDLER SYMPHONY OR- 

CHESTRA CHAMBER CONCERT 

MARCH 27: Esteemed Conductor, 

Jack Herriman, and Associate 

Conductor, Alex Zheng, lead a 

wide range of volunteer musicians 

from across the Valley of the 

Sun, providing quality symphonic 

and orchestral music to delighted 

audiences. In keeping with the 

underlying premise of the Chandler 

Symphony, concerts are provided 

to the public free of charge, so that 

live classical music remains accessible 

to everyone. Free. 3 p.m. 

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 

N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. (480) 

782-2680. chandlercenter.org. 

happening around the loop / 202 CALENDAR / 

7TH ANNUAL GILBERT GLOBAL 

VILLAGE FESTIVAL 

APRIL 9: Gilbert’s UPCOMING 

Global Village Festival 

is a multi-cultural celebration for all 

ages. The festival brings neighbors 

together in a friendly, educational 

way to learn more about each other. 

The world is at your doorstep with 

ethnic food and art and international 

gifts for sale. Community members, 

schools, non-profits and service organizations 

are invited to join in. 9:30 

a.m. – 4 p.m. Free. Gilbert Civic Cen- 

ter North Campus, 50 E. Civic Center 

Dr., Gilbert. (480) 503-6224. 

ABOUT THIS GUIDE 

Calendar listings include public 

events and attractions from 

around the East Valley. Confirm 

information before making plans 

by calling the listed phone number. 

Submissions must arrive, via 

sondra@202magazine.com, at least 

eight weeks prior to issue date. While 

we strive to include all submissions, 

inclusion is not guaranteed. 


25

202 EDITOR’S WORDS / greetings and salutations 

26 

Katey Trowbridge was 

awarded the Arizona Pinball 

Player’s League 2010 Fem 

Fatal award for her first year 

of competitive play. 

Pinball 

Wizards 


Old school machines inspire 

East Valley collectors, gamers

WORDS BY EMILY SEPULVEDA 

PHOTOS BY MARK SUSAN 

“It used to be you could walk into any 7-Eleven and find 

a pinball machine. Every bar would have one or two, you 

could find seven or eight in every bowling alley, and there 

were arcades full of them.” – Gary Marks, a Chandler resident 

They’re loud 

and flashy. 

They incorporate art, mechanics, and sophisticated 

software. They’re a mainstay of Americana, 

and are highly sought after by individuals 

across the world, and their admirers demonstrate a devotion that ranges 

from highly enthusiastic to downright fanatic. The source of such fanaticism: 

pinball. 

“There’s something about pinball that’s unlike any other game,” says 

Gary Marks, a Chandler resident. A lifelong pinball devotee, Gary had 

been playing since he “was big enough to step on a box and look over 

the glass,” and at age 59, has been around to observe much of pinball’s 

evolution from a ubiquitous presence in daily life to its current 

status as the object of desire for collectors, restoration enthusiasts, 

and both competitive and recreational players. 

A GAMING EVOLUTION 

Pinball’s origins can be traced back to the 15th century, when 

common outdoor games like croquet and bowls evolved into tabletop 

games like billiards. Various changes and improvements came about 

until the 1930s, when a typical game was encased under glass, could 

fit on a bar top or table, and used a spring-loaded plunger to propel the 

ball onto the playfield. These models were popular among Depression-era 

Americans, and the distraction of the game could be had for a penny. Over 

the course of the next century, pinball became electrified, had flippers added, 

and went through many evolutions of design and style. It was during the 1970s 

that pinball’s popularity peaked, and machines could be found in every corner 

store, bowling alley, and bar in America. 

“It used to be you could walk into any 7-Eleven and find a pinball machine,” 

says Gary. “Every bar would have one or two, you could find seven 

or eight in every bowling alley, and there were arcades full of them.” During 

this heyday, pinball often appeared beside new-fangled video games, and 

it wasn’t long before pinball was pushed aside by Space Invaders and the like. 

CULT FOLLOWING 

But pinball didn’t just go away. Machines were still manufactured and sold, with ever more 

sophisticated software and game objectives, and increasingly elaborate art and sound. And the 

game maintained its cult following of devoted dealers and restorers. 

“It’s a great hobby because it’s so multifaceted,” explains Gary, adding that he considers 

himself a restorer, collector, than collector, “in that order. Actually,” he laughs, “I’d 

Greg Davis, the 

2010 State Pinball 

Champion, is a 

member of the 

APPL’s competitive 

A division. 


27

28 

rather talk about pinball than 

any of it.” 

Gary began restoring pinball machines 

10 years ago and currently has 

about 10 machines in his collection. 

All of these machines have been lovingly 

refurbished and brought to likenew 

condition, some of them more 

than once. A fire last year burned one 

of his machines past saving; three 

more were heavily smoke damaged. 

Gary did some research and finally 

saved the machines by blasting 

them with ozone and dousing them 

in chemicals. “It took the smoke 

smell away,” he says. “And the 

smell of the chemicals went away 

after about six months.” All three 

machines are back in top shape, 

and Gary feels like his experience 

has contributed to the restoration 

community. “Common wisdom was 

that smoke damaged machines were 

trash,” he explains. “Now they’re 

even cleaner than before.” 

A COMPETITIVE “SPORT” 

So what happens when 

these machines are given 

fresh life? They’re played 

on, sometimes by highly 

competitive gamers. 


“Pinball’s the only thing in the world 

I can do to make the rest of the 

world disappear,” says Greg Davis, 

a Scottsdale lawyer who has been 

collecting pinball machines since he 

was 11 years old. He began playing 

pinball in New York City’s Broadway 

Arcade, often for money, and as a 

preteen sold his baseball card collection 

to finance his first machine. His 

current collection numbers around 

25, and includes such machines as 

Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the 

Caribbean, and a machine called 

The Big Bang Bar, which is themed 

around a sleazy space tavern where 

aliens drink and flirt. If enough of 

the game’s objectives are met, a 

player can get the aliens to throw 

up on the bar. 

Pinball Talk 

Greg Davis is the 2010 

Arizona State Pinball 

Champion and is 

consistently ranked 

among the world’s top 

100 players. 

Though he’s been playing recreationally 

since childhood, Greg only 

started playing competitively after 

he moved to Arizona in 1992. As a 

national player (Greg is currently 

sitting at #104 in the Word Pinball 

Player rankings, and has been 

ranked top 100 often in the past), 

Greg plays in tournaments around 

the country. This year he has his 

sights set on travel to Texas, Colorado, 

and Chicago for competitions, 

and he will play at local events 

hosted by the Arizona Pinball Players 

League (APPL). As a member of 

the APPL’s competitive A division, 

Greg looks forward to each competition, 

and absolutely plays to win. 

Assume the swagger of a pinball pro and drop some gamer lingo 

Wizard – An exceptionally skilled player. The term comes from the 1969 rock opera Tommy, 

where the likewise nicknamed protagonist becomes famous when he masters pinball. 

Stopper – A small metal post, often with a rubber ring, typically found between and slightly 

below the bottom flippers. If the ball hits the post, it will bounce up and away, saving it from 

draining. Skilled players can use the stopper to make trick shots. 

Drain – The common term used to refer to the area beneath the flippers. If the ball rolls into the 

drain, it will be lost. 

Magic Post – A risable post between the flipper fingers that completely blocks the middle drain. 

Match – The chance to win a free game after the last ball has drained. On most 

machines, the free game is received when the last two digits of the score 

match a pseudo randomly picked two-digit number.

PINBALL TIDBITS 

�� Pinball machines manufactured before 1948 were flipper-less. The addition of flippers at the 

bottom of the table allowed players to keep the ball in play longer. 

�� New York City banned pinball in 1940, in an attempt to crack down on illegal gambling. 

�� The largest pinball machine ever manufactured is called “The Hercules,” and measures nearly 

seven feet tall and almost eight feet long. 

�� Pinball evolved from an 18th century French table game called Bagatelle 

�� The current #1 world pinball player is Keith Elwin, of Carlsbad, California. The top 25 players hail 

from places such as Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and Hungary. 

“I’ve never not made the state finals,” he says. Those boasts are backed up by the facts: 

Greg is the 2010 State Pinball Champion, and is looking forward to defending that title 

when the APPL 2011 season kicks off on March 5. 

A PINBALL REVIVAL? 

Chandler’s Katey Trowbridge is a member of APPL as well, but her play 

is a little more recreational. “It’s my second season playing,” she says, “and 

I’m really excited.” Katey’s pinball career began two years ago when she 

and her boyfriend acquired their first machine. “We started playing at 

home, then playing more outside,” she explains. “That’s what got me 

really used to it.” Since then, Katey’s collection has grown to nine 

machines. “They’re in the living room, the den,” she says. “They kind 

of spill out into the garage.” 

The 2011 APPL season kicks off on March 5. Events are held at 

members’ homes, and provide players an opportunity to not only get 

to know each other, but also play on each others’ machines. “It’s a lot 

of fun,” Katey says. “Every month we have a different event, usually 

about 25 people. It takes hours.” Katey was awarded the 2010 Fem 

Fatal award by APPL, acknowledging her as the best female player. “I 

was proud of that,” she says. “I’m hoping to get it again this year.” 

Katey says the appeal of pinball lies in the tactile elements of the 

game. “I like the appeal of the ball. It takes finesse, and I’ve had a lot 

of fun getting better at it.” Gary agrees. “Pinball is tactile, wild, and real,” 

he says. “It requires a lot of skill.” Gary adds that “the younger generation 

doesn’t have a lot of nostalgia for it,” but Katey is more optimistic about the 

game’s appeal. “My hope is that if people see a machine, they’ll pop a quarter in 

and check it out,” she says. “Give it a shot; you’ll have a lot of fun.” 

Want to play? Contact the Arizona Pinball Players League for more info: 

pinballarizona.com. 

Play Pinball 

To play the largest selection of pinball machines 

in the Valley requires a bit of a drive…but we 

hear it’s worth it. 

Castles & Coasters has a treasure trove of 26 

late model pinball machines ready to play… 

Castles N’Coasters 

9445 N. Metro Parkway, 

Phoenix 

(602) 997-7575 

Game Works 

5000 Arizona Mills Circle, 

Tempe 

(480) 839-4263 

Golfland Sunsplash 

155 W. Hampton Ave., 

Mesa 

(480) 834-8319 

Gary Marks restores classic 

pinball machines. 

Long Wong’s 

1639 E. Apache Blvd., 

Tempe 

(480) 967-0167 

Q N Brew 

3400 S. Mill Ave. #348, 

Tempe 

(480) 968-3722 


29

202 SPOTLIGHT / 

30 

Production still from the short film, Crusader. Left: Writer/Director Dana Skvarek II, right: actress Kanani Voegeli. On location at the set for Crusader, going over the shot list 

and determining scheduling for the night. From left to right, 

Director/Writer Dana Skvarek II, First Assistant Director/ 

Actor Jeff Goeson. 


AZFAME 


Photo credit: Andrew DeCarlo, Andrew DeCarlo Studios. 

EAST VALLEY FILMMAKERS BRING ARIZONA 

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TOGETHER 

ARIZONA ISN’T EXACTLY a movie-making mecca, but independent 

filmmakers and Arizona natives Dana Skvarek II and Richard 

Ryan are out to change that. As the creators behind the Arizona 

Film and Media Expo (AZFAME), they started the event to bring 

cohesion and attention to the Valley’s entertainment industry. 

“We started this event out of necessity,” explains Dana, 

“there are a lot of people doing films here and we wanted to 

pull them together to create a serious entertainment community 

and raise awareness of the Arizona Film & Media Coalition.” 

Last year’s inaugural Tempe event was so popular that the 

duo had to move AZFAME to the Phoenix Convention Center 

this year and extend it from one day to two to handle the 

various casting agents, talent scouts, directors, filmmakers, 

writers, designers, actors, models, and other industry professions 

attending. In addition to the more than 120 exhibits 

and booths this year, the number of seminars being held 

has increased from four to 12. According to Mesa’s Jeff 

Goeson, the executive director of the film festival portion 

of AZFAME, the seminars are held by industry veterans 

on a variety of topics: action for actors, comedic acting, 

art of improv, and screen writing – to name a few.

Photo credit: Andrew DeCarlo, Andrew DeCarlo Studios. 

2ND ANNUAL ARIZONA FILM 

AND MEDIA EXPO (AZFAME) 

March 12 - 13 

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

$10 

@ The Phoenix Convention Center 

100 N. Third St., Phoenix 

(602) 262-6225 

azfame.com 

“There’s a lot going on in the 

film community, just not a lot 

happening to bring the various 

elements together. Within the 

industry, there are a lot of different 

events, challenges, and festivals,” explains Jeff, “but 

there’s also a lot of fracture. AZFAME brings together 

a lot of different fields of expertise for interaction and 

idea generation.” 

As for the film festival portion of the event, Jeff expects 

an upward of 50 short film entries. After being judged by 

a panel, the films with the highest scores will be screened 

in the exhibition and get a chance at cash prizes, distribution, 

and specialty awards. 

AZFAME complements another project the trio is 

working on, the short film, Crusader. According to Jeff, 

an assistant director on the film, it won’t be ready for 

the AZFAME Film Festival, but illustrates what they’re 

trying to achieve with the event. Shot exclusively in the 

Valley, the film chronicles a martial arts expert turned 

priest who tries to save his daughter from slave trad- 

/202 SPOTLIGHT / 

The 2010 Arizona Film and Media Expo (AZFAME). 

An acting seminar taught by Jeffrey Weissman at the 2010 Arizona Film and Media Expo. 

ers. Produced by Depleting Shadow Entertainment, an 

independent film and television production company 

spearheaded by Dana and Richard (the duo behind 

AZFAME), Crusader is utilizing all local talent. Everything 

from the cast of 40 to craft services, special effects 

and wardrobe has been sourced locally. 

Both Jeff and Dana agree that filming in Arizona has 

many benefits. “The cost of production is a lot less because 

the unions don’t exist here,” explains Jeff. Dana agrees, 

“You don’t have to get all the permits that you do elsewhere. 

Plus, in California, for instance, everyone expects a 

piece of the pie. That’s not the case here. People are very 

open to letting you film around town.” It’s their hope that 

AZFAME highlights these benefits and also gets people 

more involved in the Arizona Film and Media Coalition, a 

group whose mission is to enhance the economic vitality 

of the Arizona film and media communities. 


Photo credit: Jean-Louis Husson 

Photo credit: Jean-Louis Husson 

31

202 PARENTHOOD / raising kids in the east valley 

Ask the Family 

202 Magazine caught up with Mesa’s Bond family to find out 

how they’d react to this situation: 

32 

Childhood 

obesity is 

a growing 

problem for 

Valley youth. 

How do 

you address 

the issue 

at home? 

PHOTO BY MARK SUSAN 

Kelli Nelson Bond, 34 

(NASM Certified Personal Trainer) 

“A well balanced lifestyle. For our family, Dave 

and I make a conscious effort to practice 

healthy lifestyle habits, daily, in every aspect 

from physical activity to nutrition to treats in 

moderation, as well as enjoying the good and 

happiness in life. Health and wellness is a 

way of life. As a parent, I have a responsibility 

in caring for and raising our children that 

involves teaching and exemplifying the importance 

of health and wellbeing. I feel strongly 

about providing our boys with the information 

and the tools so that they may remain physically 

active and make good choices regarding 

food (for all the years of their lives). The best 

part of obesity prevention with our boys is 

the fun – along with great memories – that 

come from participating together during 

activities such as hiking, running, yoga and 

playing/exercising at a park.” 


Brayden Bond, 6 

“I enjoy hiking and playing 

sports like baseball and flag 

football. I also like to exercise 

in P.E. at school. My mom 

and dad give me a lot of 

fruits and vegetables, and 

other foods that are good 

for me, for breakfast, lunch, 

snacks and dinner.” 

Dave Bond, 36 

“First and foremost, 

we try to feed our 

kids a well balanced 

diet that includes 

plenty of fruits and 

vegetables. We also 

try to avoid fast food, 

which can be challenging 

with busy schedules. 

As individuals 

and as a family, we are 

very active and sportsoriented; 

therefore 

our kids get a good 

amount of physical 

activity. Almost every 

day, weather permitting, 

we ride bikes 

or play some type 

of sport. Our home is 

near Usery Mountain 

Regional Park, so we 

also spend quite a bit 

of time hiking. Limits 

are set on the amount 

of time spent watching 

TV and playing video 

games, but when they 

do play video games 

our kids love the Wii, 

which also gives 

them additional physical 

activity.” 

Dylan Bond, 4 

“Playing at the park 

and not eating too 

much yucky foods 

helps me be healthy.”


Mom Life 

Picture This 

Are you a mom and amateur photographer looking for a place to 

connect and be inspired by other creative types? Jen Driesbach, a 

Gilbert mom, wanted to create a forum where aspiring East Valley 

photogs could share images, tips, and commentary. Enter 

kreatid.blogspot.com, where each week Jen posts a different pho- 

tography challenge to get the conversation started. From fresh takes 

on body parts (the clothed, modest types) to modern and whimsical 

snapshots, the entries showcase local talent in unusual ways. 

HOT BLOG: 

girlsgonechild.net 

From bang cutting gone terribly awry 

to the politics of growing gray, Rebecca 

Woolf’s embraced her transformation 

from LA party girl to doting mom 

in a style all her own. Thankfully, she’s 

chronicled it all on her personal blog, 

girlsgonechild.net and in her book, 

Rockabye: From Wild to Child. 

for her /202 MOMS / 

5Tips to Protect 

Your Kids on 

� Facebook 

Facebook is a fun way to connect with friends, post 

pics, and make business connections, but it can 

also be a dangerous place for your children to hang 

out. From identity thieves looking to steal your kids’ 

personal info to reputation-tarnishing bullies, here’re 

five steps to curb risky online social activity. 

1. ESTABLISH LIMITS & A CODE OF CONDUCT 

Sit down with your child and mutually agree on a standard 

protocol for all their Facebook activity. Discuss 

whom they’re allowed to friend and explain why. Also, 

explain to your kid that if they wouldn’t say something 

to someone’s face, they shouldn’t post it. 

2. SET PRIVACY SETTINGS 

Walk your child through the process of setting up a 

social presence and take it upon yourself to set the 

privacy settings. Make certain you have all passwords 

to each account and include your email in the settings. 

This way, you’ll be copied on all messages, friend 

requests, etc. 

3. BE THEIR FRIEND 

If you don’t already have a profile, create one. By being 

your kid’s friend online, you can monitor their conversations. 

You can always change your settings so you 

child doesn’t have access to your online conversations, 

but you want to be privy to theirs. 

4. MONITOR BEHAVIOR 

Regularly check out posts and pictures associated with 

your kid’s profile. Look closely at who’s saying what, 

how they’re saying it, and how your kid’s online community 

is responding to the message. 

5. FLAG THE CYBER BULLY 

A second at the keypad can cause life-long damage. 

Be on the lookout and talk to your kids about harassing 

behavior. Report or block people that are harassing 

them by clicking on the “Report/Block this Person” link 

at the bottom of the bully’s Facebook profile. 


33

202 DADS / for him 

34 

Dad Life 

5 

Tips to Teach 

Your Kid to 

Ride a Bike 

Falling off, bloody knees, and that first exhilarating, crashfree 

ride around the block are all part of learning to ride a 

bike. While it’s nearly impossible to take the falling-off part 

out of the equation, here are five common-sense tips to get 

your kid rolling. 

1. SIZE IS KEY 

Start off with the right bike size. Keep in mind, children’s 

bikes are measured by their wheel size, not frame size. 

Bikes that are too large are hard to handle and can be 

dangerous. The right size is one where your child can 

comfortably get on the bike and stand with his or her feet 

on the ground. 

2. PROTECT THE NOGGIN 

It’s a no brainer that your kid needs to wear a helmet, 

but make sure it fits properly. The helmet should sit level 

on your child’s head rather than tipping backward and it 

should be tight enough to prevent two fingers from being 

placed between its interior and your kid’s temples. 

3. SUITABLE TERRAIN 

You may be tempted to start your kid off riding on grass 

– don’t. While grass may be softer, it’s a lot harder to ride 

on than a smooth, flat surface. Select a wide, flat expanse 

of tarmac, one without any traffic or obstructions for the 

first lesson. Big, empty parking lots (without dividers) 

work best. 

[Words of Wisdom] 



4. STOP BEFORE GO 

Don’t teach your child to balance without first explaining 

and demonstrating how to stop the bike. Kids pedal off 

and crash into trees generally because they don’t know 

how to brake. 

5. READY, SET, ROLL 

Support your child’s bike by the handlebars and balance it 

while he or she gets familiar with the pedals and brakes. 

Next, move behind your child and hold his or her hips 

or shoulders, while showing to steer into a fall, as this puts 

the bike back under the body. 

Have your child look forward and up, not down. 

Now let go and watch your kid roll! 

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, 

he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.” – Charles Wadsworth 

HOT BLOG: 

backpackingdad.com 

Meet Shawn Burns. As the dad behind backpackingdad.com, 

his humorous take on fatherhood doesn’t involve as much 

about backpacking as one would guesstimate from his url. 

What his blog does have is a fresh perspective on parenting 

from a man’s point of view, along with nuggets of wisdom like, 

“Put enough ketchup on it and a kid will eat almost anything.”


Kid Life 

A FIELD 

TRIP DOES A 

BODY GOOD 

Tarwater Elementary first graders 

headed to the Orpheum Theater in 

Phoenix to see the Slim Goodbody 

Health Show in February. They 

learned healthy eating habits, how 

the body works, and how to take 

care of their bodies. 

Fun Fact 

Stump your friends by asking, 

“Do rocks float?” 

The answer: Yes! Pumice, a type of volcanic 

lava that mixes with air to become a rock, actually 

floats. Because pumice is full of air bubbles, 

it is less dense than water and floats. 

Try it at Home: Drop a pumice stone (you can find it 

at most grocery stores) into a glass bowl full of water. You’ll 

see it float for a length of time and, as it slowly sinks, you’ll see lots of 

bubbles escaping. The chemistry word for this is exsolution. 

Liftoff 

Mesa Public Schools’ Space Integration 

Model will receive the $2,500 Making 

a Difference Award from the National 

Science Teachers Association this 

month. The award, funded by the Drug, 

Chemical and Associated Technologies 

Association, will be used to enhance the 

Mesa’s Entz Elementary students experience the SIM. 

district’s science program. 

In the SIM curriculum, sixth graders 

study the wonders of space through a simulated shuttle flight. Their mission: to 

launch the shuttle and bring it safely back to earth. To accomplish this, the student 

astronauts and mission control engineers call upon their science and math 

lessons, and their teamwork and problem-solving skills. 

for them / 202 KIDS / 

Catching up with 

Jessica Golden 

A recipient of last year’s Gilbert 

Education Foundation scholarship 

has put her award to good use. Jessica 

Golden just completed her first 

year at Chandler-Gilbert Community 

College. The GEF scholarship not 

only helped pay for her education, it 

helped Jessica land the Roadways 

to Healthcare Scholarship, which allowed 

her to skip the two-year waiting 

list for the nursing program at 

Chandler-Gilbert. She also received 

a Coca-Cola scholarship. Currently 

doing her clinicals at Mercy-Gilbert 

Medical Center, Jessica hopes to 

specialize in anesthesiology. 


Photo credit: Robyn Kelly 

35

202 NEIGHBORS / meet and greet 

36 

PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEY 

Meet 

Ben Andrus, 29 

What gets me out of 

bed during the week: We 

have two Boxers and they 

make it their mission in life 

to communicate exactly 

when they need to go out 

in the mornings. This “alarm 

clock” usually involves a 

form of dance, scratching 

of nails on the wood floors 

and a deep grumble followed 

by a yip or two for 

good measure. Two sets of 

peering eyes at the edge of 

the bed always accompany 

this performance. I work for 

the nation’s largest privately 

owned bank, Academy 

Mortgage Corporation, in 

Chandler. This past November, 

I entered the “President’s 

Club,” a nationwide 

group of elite loan officers 

(top 5% producers) and that 

motivates me, too. 

My favorite East Valley 

spot is: There are many 

but I would have to say 

Usery Mountain Park. My 

wife and I are avid outdoorsy 

types and at Usery 

you can do just about anything 

from mountain biking 

or road biking to hiking, 

shooting, and even archery. 

During the weekends 

you’ll find me: On the 

weekends I usually spend 

some time biking or running. 

We’re also active 

in our church and attend 

regularly on Sunday. A nice 

little trip to Home Depot is 

usually in the cards – maybe 

Bed Bath and Beyond, if 

we have enough time. Long 

weekends are somewhat of 

a hobby and we enjoy time 

in Sedona, Payson, and a 

few camping hotspots that 

will remain nameless. 

I love my neighborhood 

because: We truly love our 

neighborhood. We’ve been 

in our home a little over 

three years now. It’s been 

fun watching the community 

develop, kids grow up 

and home prices drop... in 

all seriousness, it says something 

about the community 

in which you live when the 

last thing on your mind are 

home values. We’re looking 

forward to many more 

years there. 

Get to Know BEN’S NEIGHBORHOOD 

We live at Baseline and Higley. 

All within a few miles we can shop at Superstition 

Springs Mall, hike at Usery Mountain Park, bike, golf 

Superstition Springs Golf Club, eat at my favorite 

joint; Joe’s Farm Grill, take the dogs to the Cosmo 


dog park, worship, work and exercise. 

Speaking of golf, CrossWoods Indoor Golf Center is 

nearby (crosswoodsgolf.com). You can escape the 

heat of the summer and practice your swing on a 

virtual course.

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Bringing foot and ankle relief to 

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202 SCOREBOARD / high school sports 

38 

Head to Head 

THIS MONTH, MEET 3 STANDOUT QCHS VARSITY BASEBALL PLAYERS 


QUEEN 

AGE: 

17 

ADAM 

BRZECZEK 

CATCH A QCHS VARSITY 

BASEBALL GAME! 

Home games @ Queen Creek High School 

22149 E. Ocotillo Rd., Queen Creek 

Queen Creek High School 

RIGHT FIELD/ 

PITCHER 

CREEK 


Mascott: Bulldogs 

Colors: Purple and Gold 

Varsity Baseball Coach: Mike Campbell 

BIGGEST RIVAL: Saguaro 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SPORT: 

The work you put in directly correlates with 

your success. 

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED: Hard 

work paying off in games. 

WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND: Hang out 

with friends. 

FAVORITE EAST VALLEY HANG OUT: 

Any place that you can play sports. 

GOAL AFTER GRADUATION: Attend 

Stanford University and play football. 

(Adam is a recruited walk-on as a QB!) 

3/8 

vs. Seton Catholic @ 4 p.m. 

3/10 

vs. McClintock @ 4 p.m. 

3/22 

vs. Poston Butte @ 4 p.m. 

3/29 

vs. Cactus Shadows @ 4 p.m. 

4/5 

vs. Jo Combs @ 4 p.m. 

4/19 

vs. Campo Verde @ 4 p.m. 

4/26 

vs. Apache Junction @ 4 p.m. 

5/2 

vs. Saguaro @ 6 p.m.

QUEEN 

AGE: 

18 

BIGGEST RIVAL: Cactus Shadows 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SPORT: 

It gives you the opportunity to show off your 

skills and compare yourself to other players from 

different schools. It is also a mental game more 

than a game of skill, so you are always thinking. 

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED: The fact that 

you can be a student of the game and there are 

always ways you can get better, no matter what 

level you play at. 

WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND: I like to hang 

out and spend time with family and friends. 

FAVORITE EAST VALLEY HANG OUT: My 

favorite hang out would have to be the Queen 

Creek High School Weight Room. 

GOAL AFTER GRADUATION: My goal after 

graduation is to go to college and play baseball 

at the next level. 

DILLON 

FREEMAN 

LEFT-HANDED PITCHER/ 

FIRST BASE 

CREEK 

high school sports / 202 SCOREBOARD / 

AGE: 

18 

QUEEN 

JULIAN 

SANDOVAL 

BIGGEST RIVAL: Cactus Shadows 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR 

SPORT: Being in control of the tempo of 

the game. I also enjoy making batters 

swear and look stupid when I throw my 

change-up. 

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED: College 

ball, senior year, and a state championship. 

WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND: Play 

baseball and take extra swings. 

FAVORITE EAST VALLEY HANG OUT: 

Home 

GOAL AFTER GRADUATION: Attend 

the United States Air Force Academy 

and play baseball for Coach Kaz and get 

a free education along the way. (Note: 

Dillon has accepted a scholarship to 

play at USAFA! 

CENTERFIELD 

CREEK 

Get your 

baseball on… 

@ East Valley Batting Cages 

Arizona World of Baseball 

1730 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe 

(480) 775-9800 

Fiddlesticks Family Fun Park 

1155 W. Elliot Rd., Tempe 

(480) 961-0800 

Home Run Stadium 

1829 E. Main St., Mesa 

(480) 844-0489 

Rip City Batting Cages 

1045 E Juniper Ave., Gilbert 

(480) 497-9548 


39

202 HEROES / doing good 

40 

Dawn Buchanan is putting up a good 

fight against cancer thanks in part to 

the kindness and help of Singleton 

Moms, an organization dedicated to 

helping single moms with cancer. 

A New 

WORDS BY BROOKE ROMNEY 

PHOTO BY MARK SUSAN 

Dawn 

LOCAL GROUP EXTENDS HELP TO 

SINGLE MOMS WITH CANCER 

WHEN DAWN BUCHANAN FELT a dreaded lump in 

her breast, she headed to the doctor. The news was 

devastating. “On August 19, 2010, I got a call at work 

that told me I had a very aggressive Stage 3 breast 

cancer,” says the Mesa resident. While this phone 

call is one no one wants to receive, it was especially 

painful for Buchanan. “I’m a single mom to a 5-year-old 

little girl. All that I could think of was that there was 

no one else I would want her to be with, so I had to 

make it through.” 

Buchanan, a military veteran, pushed through the 

diagnosis and treatment with strength and courage, 

but at times she felt weaker and more helpless than 

she could have ever imagined. That’s when she was 

especially grateful for a local charity organization, 

Singleton Moms. “When I was diagnosed with cancer, 

a co-worker told me about Singleton Moms, a group 

that devotes themselves to helping single parents with 

cancer. There were so many times that they saved us,” 

says Buchanan. 

For the past six months, Buchanan has benefitted 

from the kindness of Singleton Moms. They have 


given her cash assistance to keep her utilities on; they 

have delivered healthy meals to her and her daughter; 

they helped get her daughter to school when she 

couldn’t and cleaned her house when she was bedridden. 

“The most important thing, though, was just 

having someone who cared so much about us. When 

you are a single mom going through chemo, there are 

times when you are completely alone or shut in your 

home. It made all the difference to know someone was 

checking in and cared.” 

Caring is what Singleton Moms does best. Singleton 

Moms was founded by Andy Royal and Jody Farley- 

Berens after they watched their good childhood friend, 

Michelle Singleton, struggle with and eventually die 

from cancer. She was an incredible single mom of four 

beautiful children. After Michelle died, Royal and Berens 

felt like there had to be other sick moms out there who 

needed their help. “We started by calling the American 

Cancer Society and adopting a single mom who had 

cancer. We would help with co-pays, bring meals over, 

clean her house and just be there to talk. She passed 

away six months later,” says Farly-Berens.

But the two friends kept going and in November of 

2006, Singleton Moms became an official non-profit. They 

are currently helping eight single parents each month 

and have a waiting list of 17. “We’ve had a lot of growth 

and are trying to find ways to help more people. The 

need is so great. We are continuing to work on raising 

money and recruiting volunteers to fill those needs,” says 

Farly-Berens. 

Camille Williamson, of Gilbert, is one of those volunteers. 

She is a care-coordinator for Singleton Moms and 

loves what she does. “If there ever were people in real 

need, it’s these moms that we are helping. I imagine that 

they are going through one of the toughest things anyone 

could ever go through and doing it alone while still 

trying to be the sole support for their children.” 

“I know that having people around who care has to be 

a small bright spot during a really difficult time. I’ve become 

really close to the moms I’ve helped and it’s given 

doing good / 202 HEROES / 

my life meaning. I would recommend this organization 

to anyone looking for a way to help at a really personal 

level. It’s an amazing experience and organization to 

be a part of.” 

Buchanan is immensely grateful to Singleton 

Moms. She just recently finished her last chemo 

treatment and is hoping to be on the mend soon. 

“As soon as I’ve conquered this, I can’t wait to give 

“If there ever were people in real need, it’s these moms that 

we are helping. I imagine that they are going through one of 

the toughest things anyone could ever go through and doing it 

alone while still trying to be the sole support for their children.” 

–Camille Williamson, Gilbert resident 

back. Going through it, I never understood the heavy 

burden cancer can be…financially, emotionally, really 

in everyway, and I only have one child. I know there 

are moms out there with three and four children going 

through the same thing, and I can’t imagine how 

they are doing it. I can’t wait to be on the other side, 

helping someone else get through it just like Singleton 

Moms did for me.” 

For more information, or to donate your time or 

money, visit singletonmoms.org. 


41

202 SENIORS / vibrant after 50 

42 

Steppin’ 

Out 

THE EAST VALLEY OFFERS ACTIVITIES TO KEEP 

SENIORS ON THE MOVE 


ROCKING CHAIRS and whispered 

voices are a thing of the past for 

the East Valley’s thriving active 

adult community. With easily accessible 

senior centers and innovative 

programs, older adults are still learning, 

moving and shaking with old 

and new friends. 

With memberships at these centers 

as low as $15 per year, and many 

with free access, there is no excuse 

to bide your time at home. Come try 

your hand at a few activities and see 

why active adult centers just might 

be the hidden fountain of youth. 

SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING 

Twice a week, active adults can 

dance the afternoon away, no partner 

necessary! Each dance includes 

live, local music from the Sunland 

Combo or the Let’s Dance Band and 

refreshments. 



Red Mountain Active Adult Center 

Wednesdays: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. 

$3 (members), $4 (non-members) 

Mesa Active Adult Center 

Tuesdays: 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

$4 (members), $5 (non-members) 

MOSEY ON OVER 

Pull on your cowboy boots and 

let “Gramma Jones” school you in 

the fast and fun art of line dancing. 

Recorded music and helpful instruction 

is available during each time 

slot, as is a foot stomping good time. 


Thursdays: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. & Fri 

days: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

$3 (members), $3.50 (non-members) 

STRETCH YOUR BODY 

Come find out what your body is 

capable of with Dale Snow. He takes 

participants through both yoga and 

aerobics with individualized programs 

to get a safe, comfortable workout. 


Tuesday and Friday mornings 

$3 – $4 per class 

LEARN A LANGUAGE 

Nothing sharpens your mind 

like teaching it something new… 

especially a new language. Weekly 

Spanish classes are offered for both 

beginning and intermediate Spanish 

speakers. 


Wednesdays: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. 

Membership required 

SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS 

Members of the Writer’s Guild 

gather weekly to share short stories, 

poems, memoirs and more. Discover 

your inner Faulkner as you support 

and gain support from other writers 

in the community. 


Mondays: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Membership required 

ENGAGE YOUR SENSES 

Try your hand at Chataugua, 

which essentially means anything 

that puts your mind, body and senses 

to work. With classes changing often, 

Chataugua gives you a taste of just 

about everything you might like to explore. 

Offerings include: Fused glass, 

jazz band, billiards, piano, studio art, 

getting healthy naturally and more. 


Tuesday: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Cost varies 

LEND A HELPING HAND 

Everyone feels more vibrant when 

they are helping someone else. Join 

East Valley RSVP and put your talents 

and skills to work by bettering 

the community. There are opportunities 

to volunteer in just about any 

capacity including schools, hospitals, 

and beautifying the community. 

Each participant chooses the type of 

service and how many hours can be 

dedicated to each assignment. Being 

an integral part of the community is 

a great way to stay connected. 

For more information visit: evadultresources.org/locations/east-valleyrsvp.aspx

Just 

Ask 

WHAT DOES KELLY 

ESCOBEDO, 80, LIKE ABOUT 

THE MESA ACTIVE ADULT 

CENTER? 

“The best part of going to the 

Mesa Center is my interaction 

with other people. Currently 

I volunteer serving food there 

three days a week and it keeps 

me busy. I really enjoy working 

alongside such great people.” 

Missing Teeth or 

Wearing Dentures? 

Difficulty in eating or speaking? 

Dentures shifting or coming loose? 

Tired of denture adhesives? 

PLAY A GAME 

Try your hand at Wii Bowling, 

where you can have all the fun of 

bowling without the strain of a heavy 

ball, or join friends and neighbors for 

a morning of Bingo fun. These social 

activities will let you have a ball a few 

times each week and stay competitive 

with grandkids when they come 

for a visit. 

Gilbert Community Center 

Bingo on Monday and Friday: 10:15 

a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Wii Bowling on Tuesday: 12:15 a.m. 

– 2 p.m. 

Free 

REFINE YOUR ART 

Arts and crafts aren’t just for 

summer camp. Learn or perfect 

your crafting skills each week 

through a crocheting, ceramics or 

quilting group or class. Let others 

in on your time-tested secrets and 

create new items for your home or 

as gifts for others. 

Chandler Senior Center 

Times vary 

Free 

Consider Dental Implants 

Enjoy secure fitting teeth as quickly as your first visit. 

Eat and speak in public with confidence again. 

Comfortable, affordable and predictable solution. 

Dr. Edward Miller, Dr. Michael Kelly Licensed Arizona General Dentists 

www.scottsdalecenterfordenturesandimplants.com 

vibrant after 50 / 202 SENIORS / 

CHECK YOUR HEALTH 

There is no better secret to 

staying young and active than 

taking care of your body and 

mind. All centers offer wellness 

counseling and free blood pressure 

screenings. East Valley Adult 

Resources also offers a free yearly 

health expo with free health 

screenings, interactive demonstrations, 

food tastings, door prizes 

and more. 

Red Mountain Center 

March 31: 9 a.m. – noon 

Center Locations: 

Red Mountain Center 

7550 E. Adobe St., Mesa 

Chandler Senior Center 

202 E. Boston St., Chandler 

Mesa Center 

247 MacDonald St., Mesa 

Gilbert Senior Center 

50 E. Civic Center Dr., Gilbert 

“Scottsdale quality with 

prices to fit your budget.” 

Call today for your complimentary consultation. (480) 513-2620 

9377 E. Bell Road, Suite 301 

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 


43

202 FITNESS / shape up 

44 

BIG 

LOSER 

MESA’S TOMO JAHN 

FIRMS UP AFTER HER 

COLLEGE REUNION 


TOMO JAHN, 39, is a busy mom 

of two and has three jobs. She 

serves as an international commodities 

rep, handles real estate 

management, and works parttime 

at a private school. Until the 

birth of her first child in 2003, 

she didn’t have a weight problem. 

A competitive swimmer in 

high school and college, she took 

her trim figure for granted. “I’ve 

always loved to exercise. Weight 

was never an issue,” she says. 

THE REVELATION 

After the birth of her first 

child, Tomo knew she was 

heavier than she’d been, but it 

wasn’t until after the birth of 

her second child in 2005 that 

the extra pounds proved truly 

troublesome. Says Tomo, “I 

started having heel problems 

and it became painful for me 

to walk, which seemed to stem 

from my heaviness. I recognized 

then that as I got older, the extra 

weight could pose other, more 

serious, problems for my health.” 

THE CHANGE 

“I have a good husband and 

two great kids. My life is nothing 

I should complain about. I 

wasn’t unhappy, but then the 

weight issue came back and hit 

me,” Tomo describes. After flying 

back from Japan to attend her 

college reunion, Tomo resolved to 

drop the weight. “All my friends 

BEFORE 

195 lbs 

AFTER 

160 lbs 


from college had stayed very fit, 

they looked good. My friend that 

had just had a baby even looked 

better than me. I knew I had to 

do something.” 

THE LIFESTYLE 

Tomo’s weight loss journey 

started with a trip to her doctor, 

so he could treat her for her 

heel pain. Next, she sought the 

instruction of personal trainer 

Brenda Bark, who not only put 

Tomo on a regular exercise program, 

but also changed Tomo’s 

eating habits. “Brenda explained 

that eating determines 80% of 

SHARE YOUR 

WEIGHT-LOSS STORY 

If you’ve shed excess pounds, 

you could be featured in 

202 Magazine. Contact 


with your story. 

the results. My cravings were 

cookies and donuts, but once 

I started eating more whole 

grains and fresh fruits and 

vegetables, after the first four 

months, I never wanted to eat 

poorly – I just wanted to see 

better results every month,” 

says Tomo. 

THE REWARD 

Besides the 35 pounds Tomo’s 

lost, another plus has been providing 

more wholesome meals 

for her family. “For myself, I’m 

healthier; I have less problems 

and more energy. And now my

200 

krispykreme.com 

family has better eating habits. 

We use to eat more fast food 

and take out and now that I’ve 

started cooking, we eat less processed 

foods. Tomo’s also happy 

her husband has noticed the results. 

“He told me, ‘You’ve started 

to have a butt.’ My butt was 

so flat before, now it’s rounder 

and my arms are more toned,” 

exclaims Tomo. 

Q&A 

Q 

A 

“I am a vegan and have started a 

new exercise program and I don’t seem 

to be losing any inches, could this be 

because I am on Synthroid for hypothyroidism?” 

– Carol H., Mesa. 

“Carol, my research on this topic 

reveals quite a bit of controversy on the 

subject of thyroid medication taken with 

soy products. Most of it centers around 

the effects of soy products on the absorption 

of thyroid medications such as Synthroid. 

Physician involvement is essential 

when dealing with this issue. You should 

make sure that the physician prescribing 

your Synthroid is completely aware 

of your diet and how your consumption 

of soy products is timed with your 

Synthroid intake. Discuss your concerns 

about lack of weight loss. It’s possible 

that soy products may slow the absorption 

of Synthroid into your body, which 

may result in too little of the medication 

CALORIE SHOWDOWN 

Dunkin Donuts 

vs. � 

Krispy Kreme 

TOMO’S TIPS 

Go for it. You will be happier. It’s 

not just about losing weight, you 

can change your lifestyle and by doing 

so your physique will get better 

and better. 

Go to sleep early. Get into bed 

before 10 p.m. If you want to watch 

your favorite TV show at night, 

record it. Wake up early and watch 

it. When I was heavier, I stayed up 

Weigh In 

BRENDA BARK, CPT, AFS, AFPA 

MYFOCUSONFITNESS.COM 

being effective. This is particularly true 

if you consume soy products within 

three hours of your Synthroid dose. Your 

physician should be able to run tests and 

identify if you have a soy/Synthroid issue 

and can suggest a plan to maintain the 

effectiveness of your Synthroid. If you are 

suffering from a decrease in Synthroid 

absorption, it could be that you are again 

having the effects of hypothyroidism, 

which can be associated with weight 

gain or the inability to lose weight.” 

Q 

A 

“I am considering the HCG diet, is 

this something you would recommend?” 

Sandy E., Tempe. 

“Sandy, I am very anti-HCG! This is 

not something I would consider for myself, 

nor would I recommend it to clients, 

friends, or family. I have done my research 

on this method of weight loss and 

I don’t agree that it is an effective and 

shape up / 202 FITNESS / 

� 260 

late every night and ate chips and 

sweets. I still remember that awful 

feeling I had every morning. 

Find the right personal trainer 

to achieve your goals. The biggest 

change I made this time around 

was finding my current personal 

trainer. She delivered my dream in 

four months, which was something 

I struggled to do on my own for the 

last five years. 

appropriate method for weight loss. Further, 

it is not FDA approved for weight 

loss, although there are many claims that 

the hormone is reasonably safe. People 

may well lose weight on HCG, but the 

probability of gaining the weight back 

after termination of the HCG program 

is high. My problem with HCG is that 

you are not developing a healthy mix of 

eating and exercise. Rather, you rely on a 

relative low and non-sustaining caloric intake 

and hormone treatments. If you are 

only taking in 500 calories per day, how 

can you possibly be eating healthy? After 

you have completed the diet, you have 

not learned what foods to choose from to 

nourish your body and keep the weight 

off. Furthermore, you have not fired up 

your metabolism through exercise. It is 

my strong opinion that you should lose 

weight with a combination triangle of 

cardio, strength training, and proper 

eating. If you leave any one of the three 

points of the triangle out, you will not be 

developing a healthy lifestyle.” 

Ask the Expert 

SEND BRENDA YOUR 

WEIGHT-LOSS QUESTIONS 

AT BRENDA@MYFOCUS 

ONFITNESS.COM. 

dunkindonuts.com 


45

202 NUTRITION / eating well 

46 

WORDS BY RITA TEMPLETON 

Honey, 

You’r e 

Amazing 

THE HARD WORK 

BEHIND HONEY 

– AND HOW IT’S 

BOTTLED RIGHT 

HERE IN TEMPE 


THINK YOU’RE A DEDICATED 

worker? Try bee-ing a member of 

a hive. According to the National 

Honey Board, the population of a 

single honeybee hive may travel as 

many as 55,000 miles collectively 

and visit over two million flowers – 

just to make one pound of honey. 

Honey has been a prized commodity 

throughout history – and given 

the effort put forth by the bees 

in its manufacture, its reputation is 

well deserved. The earliest record of 

beekeeping comes from around 7000 

B.C., depicted in Spanish cave paintings. 

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and 

Romans used honey medicinally and 

to sweeten food and drink, but also 

held it in high regard as an offering 

to the gods; Julius Caesar reportedly 

even accepted it from taxpayers 

as currency. In 1622, European 

colonists brought the honeybee to 

American soil, and hives were carried 

over the Rocky Mountains in 

the early 1850s, thus beginning the 

western love affair with the stickysweet 

“liquid gold.” 

Bees need a consistent source 

of water to keep them alive and 

their colonies thriving, so one might 

think that desert beekeeping is 

nearly impossible. But not for Crockett 

Honey Company, whose bottling

Why Honey is Sweetly Beneficial 

Honey is more than just a fabulous topping for a biscuit: it’s a secret weapon in 

the ideal healthcare (and beauty!) arsenal. A quick, long-lasting, easily digestible 

source of energy with immune-boosting benefits, honey has been found to raise 

protective antioxidant levels in the blood when consumed daily. It even has antibacterial 

properties, and is a great sore-throat soother. 

Due in part to its bacteria-killing qualities, honey makes such a good beautifier, 

too. When used as a facial mask after cleansing, it helps to clear skin, while 

enzymes soften. And it’s a very effective moisturizer, so you can add it to your bath, 

slather it on your hair as a conditioner, or coat your lips with it to combat dryness. Sweet! 

facility is headquartered in Tempe; 

they’ve been sweetening the 

Southwest since the mid-1940s, 

when the company was founded 

by a man named Bill Crockett. 

Now owned and operated by the 

Nipper family, Crockett Honey Co. 

ensures an abundant honey supply 

by keeping its 6,500 hives at 

apiaries – or bee farms – in Parker, 

along the Colorado River, where 

the bees have access to the water 

they need. Crockett’s president 

Brian Nipper regularly visits each 

apiary to make sure that both the 

bees and hives are healthy and in 

top condition. When the honeycombs 

are harvested from Crockett 

Honey Co.’s hives, they’re put 

into an extractor: a centrifuge that 

spins them quickly to remove the 

honey. The honey is then shipped 

to Tempe in 55-gallon drums. Once 

at the bottling facility, it is purified 

in a strainer, then bottled, 

capped, and sealed, to be sold not 

only at the Tempe facility but also 

in many local stores. If the bees 

work hard, then so do the people 

behind Crockett’s – they produce 

a staggering five million pounds of 

honey every year. 

The color, flavor, and even the 

scent of honey depends on the 

type of flower visited by the bee. 

Like wine, honey comes in varietals, 

each one distinct from the 

next (as a general rule, the darker 

in color, the stronger and more 

robust; lighter-colored honeys are 

usually more delicately flavored). 

Crockett Honey Co.’s desert honey 

is unique to the Sonoran Desert 

region, with a mild flavor imparted 

by floral sources such as cat 

claw, cactus, mesquite, and palo 

verde – just to name a few. While 

Crockett’s most popular seller is 

the regional desert honey that the 

company prides itself on, it also 

sells varietals from other parts of 

the country, as well as beeswax 

and beekeeping supplies. 

Next time you’re consuming 

some of the 1.31 pounds of honey 

eating well / 202 NUTRITION / 

that every American averages yearly, 

consider just how much went 

into each precious drop. Whether 

your preferred variety is local or 

has an out-of-state flavor, it’s the 

product of a lot of hard work ... 

from the bee to the bottle. 

Visit the Crockett Honey Company 

from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, at 1040 W. Alameda 

Dr., Tempe. Call (480) 731-3936 

or go to crocketthoney.com. 


47

202 BEAUTY / looking good inside and out 

48 



STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP HAIR 

SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY, LOCAL 

HAIRSTYLIST KRISTY SCOTT SHARES 

THE LATEST TRENDS FOR TRESSES 

Lovely 

Locks 

THIS SEASON, LET YOUR HAIR loose with one of the hottest trends shown on the runways. Hairstylist 

Kristy Scott, owner of Brilliant Studio in Gilbert, just got back from the 2011 Redken Symposium in Las 

Vegas and the ISSE Long Beach hair shows. She gives us a breakdown on what’s hot in hair for spring. 

Hot Tip 

“Research has shown the 

repeated use of styling tools 

with temperatures above 

392° degrees dulls shine and 

fades artificial hair color. Turn it 

down.” – Kristy Scott, 


Feathered Heads 

“Brightly-colored feather hair extensions are huge 

right now,” explains Kristy. Available in a variety 

of different color combinations, they allow users 

to express individuality. From subtle and natural 

to playful and wild, they come in an assortment of 

lengths and, since they come from real birds, each 

extension is unique. Says Kristy, “Once they are 

washed, they become one with your hair and can 

be brushed, blow-dried, straightened and curled.” 

Try: Featherheads Feather Extensions, 

$20 for 10 – 15 bundles. 

Available @ featherheads.com.

A Wrinkle in Time 

“Believe it, or not, crimping irons are back,” says Kristy. Crimping provides 

volume and lets you imitate the texture of pleats within the hair. Worn loose, 

or cinched in a chic ponytail, the key is to avoid all-out crimp, especially on 

damaged hair. To pull off this trend, start with healthy hair and try crimping 

random sections for an unstructured vibe. “Remember to use a good heat protection 

spray first,” Kristy warns. 

Try: Sam Villa’s Texture Iron, $130. 

Available @ SalonCentric 

832 W. Baseline Rd. Suite 19, Mesa. 

(480) 839-0793 

Reach Kristy Scott @ 


(480) 321-1756 

brilliantstudio.net 

Rooted in Nature 

“Hair is trending toward a more natural, relaxed look. At the hair shows, they’re showing 

much darker parts, which is reflective of what stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and 

Gwyneth Paltrow have been sporting,” Kristy says. “You see the light before the dark, 

and the contrast of dark against light really pops and provides more dimension to hair.” 

An added benefit is you can spread out the time between getting your hair colored. 

Try: Organic Root Stimulator, $7.99. 

Available @ Walgreens 

For East Valley locations, visit walgreens.com. 

Out to Dry 

“Women are turning to dry shampoos 

rather than washing their hair 

daily,” explains Kristy. “Not only does 

it save time, you avoid unnecessary 

strain on hair and can avoid the use 

of heat styling tools.” The new dry 

shampoos on the market have done 

away with the cloying, heavy odors 

and rely on fresh, natural scents and 

ingredients to absorb excess oil that 

weighs down hair and acts like a 

dirt magnet. 

Try: Fekkai Au Naturel Dry 

Shampoo, $23. 

Available @ Sephora at 

SanTan Village 

2206 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert 

(480) 917-4555 

Perfect Skin Laser Center 

�� 

*$ 7.99�UNIT 

*$ 100 Off 

Any New Procedure 

With a $300 minimum 

480.897.3623 

2177 E. Warner Rd., Ste. 105, Tempe, AZ 85284 

7045 E. 3rd Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 

www.perfectskincenter.com 

*New clients only. Expires 4-15-11 


49

202 WELLNESS / feeling great 

50 

Arthritis 

WORDS BY FRANK DIVERS 


HELP FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM THIS INCURABLE DISEASE 

SOUNDS LIKE AN OXYMORON, but 

feeling good has taken on new meaning 

when it comes to arthritis. One out 

of every five people has this incurable 

disease. Most everyone knows someone 

who suffers with arthritis pain but there’s 

help, thanks to Jan Revella, R.N. and her 

course Feeling Good With Arthritis. 

Having spent over 30 years conducting 

free public seminars for hundreds of thousands 

of people with arthritis, Jan was 

encouraged to produce her course into a 

program that could be viewed at home 

and taken advantage of by people who 

are unable to attend the live course. The 

course was shot live on location at AT 

Still College of Health Sciences in Mesa. 

Jan Revella has spent over 30 years 

conducting seminars on arthritis. 

“Arthritis education is not new,” 

says Jan, arthritis nurse specialist, and 

director of research and education at 

the Sonoran Spine Research and Education 

Foundation in Mesa. “I have been 

conducting free seminars and workshops 

for over 30 years for people in Arizona, 

working alongside some of the top 

rheumatologists and orthopaedic doctors 

in America with the goal to do everything 

in my power to help people with 

arthritis feel better. Doctors simply do 

not have the time needed to educate patients. 

They have to see as many people 

as possible, making it very difficult to 

totally understand what the patient is 

going through.”

4 

�� 

Things to 

Know About 

Arthritis* 

SINGLE DISEASE 

There are over 100 types of arthritis 

and related rheumatic conditions. 

�� 

FOR ARTHRITIS 

No single medication or treatment 

cures arthritis for 

everyone. There are treatment options 

to manage pain, 

control symptoms, and reduce joint 

damage or deformity. 

�� 

HABITS HELP THOSE SUFFERING 

FROM ARTHRITIS 

Regular exercise, maintaining ideal 

weight, stress reduction, and getting 

proper sleep can help you live 

better with arthritis. 

�� 

TREATMENT MAY PREVENT 

DEFORMITY AND DISABILITY. 

The best chance for preventing joint 

deformity and disability begins with 

early diagnosis and treatment. 

*Arthritis Foundation, arthritis.org 

“My approach has always been to 

work closely with the person with 

arthritis, to understand their feelings 

and provide personalized information 

to help them through the process of 

understanding arthritis, which leads 

to knowing how to better live with 

it. It works! Over the past 30 plus 

years, I have had several hundred 

thousand people attend my programs 

and today I have friends all 

over the country who let me know 

how thankful they are for their new 

lease on life. What’s different now 

is that we have produced the course 

into a home study program so 

people everywhere can benefit.” 

Paul Howard, M.D, has been 

featured multiple times by Phoenix 

Magazine as a Rheumatology “Top 

Doc” in Arizona, says, “Jan has a 

style and approach to helping people 

with arthritis that works. She is 

the only non-physician I have ever 

known to gain the respect, admiration 

and support of professionals 

feeling great / 202 WELLNESS / 

like myself who are in the business 

of treating people with arthritis.” 

“My patients tell me that Jan’s 

Feeling Good With Arthritis course 

really helped them,” says Dennis 

Crandall, M.D. and medical director 

of Sonoran Spine Center. He adds, 

“people tell me that Jan has a way 

of explaining things so they can understand 

and that she really cares. 

I encourage all my patients with 

arthritis to take the course.” 

To learn more about the Jan’s 

arthritis course, visit 

arthritiseducation.com. 


51

202 STYLE / fashionable in the loop 

52 

Oh, 

Baby! 

East Valley moms celebrate 

the beauty of new life 


PHOTOS BY LAURA WINSLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

Traci lives 

in Gilbert 

Jeans – PacSun 

Grey sweater – Forever 21 

Necklace – Romy 

Boots – Forever 21 


53

54 

Megan lives 

in Phoenix 

Jeans – Destination Maternity 

Striped melon/white shirt – Ann Taylor LOFT 

Silver necklace – Ann Taylor LOFT 

Brooch – White House Black Market 

Shoes – Born 

202 MAGAZINE \ MARCH 2011 \ 202magazine.com

Lavender sweater – Ann Taylor LOFT 

Scarf – Ann Taylor LOFT 


55

56 

Lisa lives 

in Chandler 

Jeans – Paris Blue Maternity 

Purple tank – Motherhood Maternity 

Sweater – Forever 21 

Boots – Nordstrom 

Scarf – H&M 

202 MAGAZINE \ MARCH 2011 \ 202magazine.com

Ashley lives 

in Gilbert 

Jeans & white tank – Liz Lange Maternity 

Purple tank – American Eagle 

Green sandals – Steve Madden 


57

202 LIVING / homes in the loop 

58 

Lucky A 


CHANDLER CLOSET GETS THE 

RED CARPET TREATMENT 

WORDS BY PAM COLE & HEATHER SANDERS 


Local 

202 Magazine partnered with the 

gals at The ReStyle Group to bring 

you this new monthly feature. Stay 

tuned, in our next issue we’ll key you 

in on how you can be chosen as an 

upcoming “Lucky Local.” 

IF A SMALL GLASS SLIPPER CHANGED Cinderella’s life, 

what could a simple plum-colored hat do to change a closet 

from ‘getting ready’ to glam and glitz? Squeeze in with us 

as we wave our magic wand in the personal closet of local 

fashion stylist Fawn Cheng. 

This closet needed to work as hard as its entrepreneurial 

owner: doubling as backdrop for Fawn’s YouTube fashion 

channel and housing everything from high-end stilettos to 

little black dresses. “I want a finished set that says ‘style’ to 

my viewers but one that is also a smart solution for me.” 

So while Fawn headed to The Apparel Show, we started 

on her wish list with a deadline looming like the strike of 

midnight. From paint, lighting and rugs to seating and accessories, 

this space needed to be about function as much 

as fashion. 

Already, the closet (formerly a bedroom) was well dressed 

with one wall of gorgeous metallic damask wallpaper. Using 

the inspiration of her signature color, we immediately decided 

that the ceiling would be perfect painted in plum. This would 

help with the issue of ‘glare’ during YouTube filming sessions, 

but we still needed to find an alternative lighting fixture 

to completely solve the problem. In spite of the fact that 

we liked the look of the existing cappuccino-colored crystal 

chandelier, it was a bit oversized and Fawn was simply not 

in love with it. It was also not placed correctly in the room so 

when the new pleated drum-style fixture was installed, our 

handy electrician moved it to center stage! 

With two major design decisions done, it was onto the big 

props. First, we needed to fix a minor eyesore: two back-toback 

tall shoe organizers with an exposed seam currently 

covered up by an unnecessary mirror and an empty black 

dresser. Thankfully, we noticed a smashing silver silk drapery 

panel folded up on the floor. Voila! With three simple screws 

on top of the shelving units, we hung the drapery panel on a

“Steal this Look” 

�� 

�� 

�� 

bling for some sparkle in your space. 

�� 

Think ‘Dressed to Impress’ or ‘You’re Gorgeous!” 

�� 

in your closet or another room in your home. 

�� 

color in an unexpected place. 

�� 

man while strapping on your sandals? 

�� 

and gain a flattering dressing room glow. 

�� 

homes in the loop / 202 LIVING / 

Take2 

Behind the Scenes 

with Fawn Cheng 

FOR FAWN CHENG, FASHION and style has been a 

passion as long as she can remember. “Ever since I 

was little, I’ve loved playing dress up. I was always 

the ‘girliest’ of girls—the one who made clothes for 

their Barbie and changed outfits endlessly.” But growing 

up in a family with a strong focus on science 

rather than the arts, she opted for a business degree 

and built a high-powered career over the years as a 

vice president in a relocation firm, where she honed 

her marketing, branding, and sales skills during the 

day and her fashion and style sense after hours. 

After attending image consulting school, Fawn’s 

personal styling business began to thrive during the 

evenings. “Often people ask me what a personal stylist 

is,” Fawn says, “But it’s not just about fashion. It’s 

about what looks good on a person based on their 

career or goals. I educate my clients on how to dress 

appropriately for their proportion, scale and body 

type. I start in their closet and we work with what 

they have: making new outfits, working with balance 

and scale, and creating a list to shop from.” 

During a company re-organization last year, she 

made the decision to pursue her dream full time and 

she hasn’t looked back since. Fawn muses, “The freedom 

in working for myself and the flexibility to office 

from home has been pivotal in my relationships, 

especially with my son.” 

From working in the corporate world to styling 

women in the corporate world, Fawn sees a typical 

client twice a year and empowers them to shop 

stylishly and effectively without making buying 

mistakes. She has already been featured in style segments 

for local television stations and many consider 

her to be the go-to girl for local style and fashion. 

Even if you’re not a client, you’ll be able to grab 

some style tips and fashion insights during her You- 

Tube segments, all from her newly styled set. 


59

60 


/ 202 LIVING / homes in the loop 

Lucky A 

/ 202 LIVING / homes in the loop 

CHANDLER CLOSET GETS THE 

RED CARPET TREATMENT 

Local 

WORDS BY PAM COLE & HEATHER SANDERS 


202 Magazine partnered with the 

gals at The ReStyle Group to bring 

you this new monthly feature. Stay 

tuned, in our next issue we’ll key you 

in on how you can be chosen as an 

upcoming “Lucky Local.” 

IF A SMALL GLASS SLIPPER CHANGED Cinderella’s life, 

what could a simple plum-colored hat do to change a closet 

from ‘getting ready’ to glam and glitz? Squeeze in with us 

as we wave our magic wand in the personal closet of local 

fashion stylist Fawn Cheng. 

This closet needed to work as hard as its entrepreneurial 

owner: doubling as backdrop for Fawn’s YouTube fashion 

channel and housing everything from high-end stilettos to 

little black dresses. “I want a finished set that says ‘style’ to 

my viewers but one that is also a smart solution for me.” 

So while Fawn headed to The Apparel Show, we started 

on her wish list with a deadline looming like the strike of 

midnight. From paint, lighting and rugs to seating and accessories, 

this space needed to be about function as much 

as fashion. 

Already, the closet (formerly a bedroom) was well dressed 

with one wall of gorgeous metallic damask wallpaper. Using 

the inspiration of her signature color, we immediately decided 

that the ceiling would be perfect painted in plum. This would 

help with the issue of ‘glare’ during YouTube filming sessions, 

but we still needed to find an alternative lighting fixture 

to completely solve the problem. In spite of the fact that 

we liked the look of the existing cappuccino-colored crystal 

chandelier, it was a bit oversized and Fawn was simply not 

in love with it. It was also not placed correctly in the room so 

when the new pleated drum-style fixture was installed, our 

handy electrician moved it to center stage! 

With two major design decisions done, it was onto the big 

props. First, we needed to fix a minor eyesore: two back-toback 

tall shoe organizers with an exposed seam currently 

covered up by an unnecessary mirror and an empty black 

dresser. Thankfully, we noticed a smashing silver silk drapery 

panel folded up on the floor. Voila! With three simple screws 

on top of the shelving units, we hung the drapery panel on a 

“Steal this Look” 

�� 

�� 

�� 

bling for some sparkle in your space. 

�� 

� �� 

�� 

in your closet or another room in your home. 

�� 

color in an unexpected place. 

�� 

man while strapping on your sandals? 

�� 

and gain a flattering dressing room glow. 

�� 

2 

homes in the loop / 202 LIVING / 

Take 

Behind the Scenes 

with Fawn Cheng 

FOR FAWN CHENG, FASHION and style has been a 

passion as long as she can remember. “Ever since I 

was little, I’ve loved playing dress up. I was always 

the ‘girliest’ of girls—the one who made clothes for 

their Barbie and changed outfits endlessly.” But growing 

up in a family with a strong focus on science 

rather than the arts, she opted for a business degree 

and built a high-powered career over the years as a 

vice president in a relocation firm, where she honed 

her marketing, branding, and sales skills during the 

day and her fashion and style sense after hours. 

After attending image consulting school, Fawn’s 

personal styling business began to thrive during the 

evenings. “Often people ask me what a personal stylist 

is,” Fawn says, “But it’s not just about fashion. It’s 

about what looks good on a person based on their 

career or goals. I educate my clients on how to dress 

appropriately for their proportion, scale and body 

type. I start in their closet and we work with what 

they have: making new outfits, working with balance 

and scale, and creating a list to shop from.” 

During a company re-organization last year, she 

made the decision to pursue her dream full time and 

she hasn’t looked back since. Fawn muses, “The freedom 

in working for myself and the flexibility to office 

from home has been pivotal in my relationships, 

especially with my son.” 

From working in the corporate world to styling 

women in the corporate world, Fawn sees a typical 

client twice a year and empowers them to shop 

stylishly and effectively without making buying 

mistakes. She has already been featured in style segments 

for local television stations and many consider 

her to be the go-to girl for local style and fashion. 

Even if you’re not a client, you’ll be able to grab 

some style tips and fashion insights during her You- 

Tube segments, all from her newly styled set. 

58 202 MAGAZINE \ MARCH 2011 \ 202magazine.com 

202magazine.com / MARCH 2011 / 202 MAGAZINE 59 

Keep It in The Loop 

(a local guide on who did what & where to buy it) 

Styling: The ReStyle Group - Pam Cole & Heather Sanders. 

restyleblog.com. 

Photography: Oh Snap Photography by Carlee. facebook.com/ 

ohsnapbycarlee 

Paint & Electric: Tony – B. Ann Builders (480) 920-1614 

Location: Fawn Cheng, personal stylist. fawncheng.com. 

Leather Slipper Chair, Martini Table, Faux Fur Pillow: 

West Elm, $875. 

Mirrored Dresser: Home Goods, Chandler. $275. 

Decorative Accessories: Home Goods, Chandler. $275. 

Metal Style Sign: FaithGrace Creations. $30. facebook.com/ 

FaithGraceCreations. 

Vinyl: Sassy Talk, $20. sassytalk.net 

Magnolia Flowers: Pottery Barn, Chandler. $185. 

Crystal Drum Chandelier: Lamps Plus, Chandler. $239. 

Paint: Dunn Edwards ‘Putnam Plum’ – Tempe, Mesa, Chandler & 

Gilbert locations - $60. 

Decorative Accessories: Hobby Lobby, Gilbert. $40. 

Wallpaper: Wallpaper Market, Mesa. (480) 497-6666. 

ready-made rod and turned it into a focal point fit for the silver 

screen. Stylist Heather Sanders says, “It’s always our first inclination 

to say to our clients, ‘How do we make this work with what 

we have?’ Rather than scrap it all and start over, we try to re-use 

items from the room and re-purpose items from other parts of 

the home.” 

However, we did need to purchase some key furniture pieces 

and Fawn had a defined idea of exactly what she wanted. After 

a quick shopping trip, the room began to take shape. A mercury 

glass mirrored dresser – accented by the luxurious grey leather 

chair – is where she’ll sit for YouTube film sessions. The white 

cocktail table beside the chair is ideal for small props, and in 

front of our lovely puddled drapery panel is Fawn’s ever-present 

assistant and model, Prada G. (appropriately named by her 

12-year old son, a local chess wiz). Prada G. is used by Fawn 

during her fashion filming – educating viewers on personal style 

and trends. 

But what would any stylish outfit be without the perfect 

jewelry? Accessories are the finishing touch of any room and 

without them, this film would fall flat! So we brought in fantastic 

artwork of sketched silhouettes, crystal candlesticks, silk flowers, 

white lacquer shelving, glossy ceramics, layered rugs with 

texture and prints, and mounds of mercury glass. 

In spite of all the sparkle, we kept the color palette simple 

in this space: high-gloss white, grey, black and accents of the 

signature plum. With some easy changes and without a lot of 

cost, Fawn can change out her set seasonally. She’ll just pull the 

flowers, swap the shoes, and replace the handbag as quickly as 

an outfit change from day to evening. 

So what did this style expert think of her restyled closet? Exclaims 

Fawn, “I just want to live in here now! I am so delighted 

that this space is finally finished.” For this lucky local, it’s time to 

turn on the chandelier and let the cameras roll!

Hot 

Competition 

SALSA CHALLENGE GETS FIRED UP 

FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE 

SOUTHWEST, salsa is a ubiquitous 

presence. A spoonful on top of scrambled 

eggs or dripping out the sides of 

a taco, salsa is an all-around condiment 

at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There 

are hundreds of varieties, dozens of 

choices for salsa aficionados, and 

everyone knows at least one individual 

who asserts his own salsa recipe as 

“the best ever.” 

On April 2, over 80 such individuals will gather at 

Tempe Beach Park in an attempt to back up that claim, 

each preparing 13 gallons of homemade salsa to pit 

against one another in the 27th Annual My Nana’s Best 

Tasting Salsa Challenge benefiting the Arizona Hemophilia 

Association. Entrants will compete in both mild 

and hot salsa categories, vying for bragging rights and a 

Quick and easy pico de gallo: 

2 cups tomatoes (about 4 medium sized,) seeded and 

coarsely chopped 

1 / 2 cup red onion, finely chopped 

1 jalapeño, finely chopped 

1 / 2 cup cilantro, finely chopped 

1 / 2 teaspoon salt 

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 

Mix all ingredients, adding salt and lemon juice last. 

Serve with chips, in tacos, or over fish or chicken. For 

a spicier salsa, substitute the jalapeno with a serrano or 

habanero chili pepper. 

WORDS BY EMILY SEPULVEDA 

$1,000 grand prize, not to mention the accolades of the 

over 20,000 estimated attendees. 

“It’s a chance to eat all the chips and salsa your little 

heart desires,” says Katie Stringham, event coordinator for 

the Arizona Hemophilia Association. “My Nana’s will donate 

more than 3,000 pounds of tortilla chips, and people 

will eat them all.” 

Contestants can compete as an individual, restaurant, 

or business. Valley favorites Garcia’s and Macayo’s will 

be in attendance, but well-known eateries are not the 

dominant presence at the event. “The majority of our 

playing in the loop / 202 FUN / 

competitors are individuals 

that just have a really great 

salsa recipe,” Katie explains. 

“Our individual contestants 

are really the life blood of the competition.” 

One such contestant is Shane Lickteig, part of the 

2009 grand champion team, Drunken Jalapenos. He’s 

been competing in the challenge since 2005, utilizing 

his recipe for “a good general salsa that tastes good 

on a variety of things.” With tomatoes, green chilies, 

onion, garlic, sugar, red pepper, and of course the 

namesake jalapenos, Shane’s salsa has become a social 

event. “Each year we have more and more friends 

come along to help out,” he says. “It just gets bigger 

and bigger, and it makes the work a lot easier.” The 

Drunken Jalapenos’ salsa is so popular that after their 

2009 win, Shane and his compatriots began jarring it, 

and today the Drunken Jalapeno’s brand can be 

found in farmers markets around the Valley and at 

drunkenjalapenos.com. 

Tickets are $10 at the gate, and children under 12 are 

given free admission. The event features live local bands 

throughout the day, and offers a kids’ funzone, complete 

with laser tag, bounce houses, and more. For the over 

21 crowd, there’s the Cazadores Margarita Mix-off, a 

separate competition 

for bartenders 

that features mixed 

drinks and flair 

bartending. 

Discounted 

tickets to the event 

are available at 

the event website, 

EVENT INFO 

My Nanas Best Tasting Salsa Challenge 

April 9 

11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Tempe Beach Park 

80 W. Rio Salado, Tempe 

(602) 955-3947. salsachallenge.com. 

or at any Valley Fry’s, and those proceeds make the 

salsa challenge the biggest fundraiser of the year for 

the Hemophilia Association. Says Shane, “It’s definitely 

a good excuse to get a bunch of friends together for a 

good cause.” 


61

202 DINE / eating and drinking in the loop 

S 

62 

City of residence? Mesa 

What’s the most popular dish on 

your menu? Why? Our rolls. Unlike 

other sushi restaurants, our rolls 

are all different. We have about 70 

rolls on the menu, plus several special 

rolls. And not a single roll has 

the same ingredient, even inside of 

the rolls. 

What’s the most unusual dish on 

your menu? Fever Roll, where you 

can see real fire on your table. It 

is baked in the oven and flambéed 

one more time at your table. 

What’s the most unusual dish 

you’ve ever created? Sexy Mama, 

which was a Mother’s Day special 

roll I (Nana) created. It was a roll 

without rice, but in rice paper. It had 

ushi Speak 

HaeChung (Harry) 

Lee & Nansook 

(Nana) Choi 

HUSBAND & WIFE, OWNERS/CHEFS @ 

SUSHI AVE 

866 N. HIGLEY RD. 

GILBERT 

(480) 218-5700 


3 EAST VALLEY SUSHI CHEFS TALK FISH, ROLLS, 

AND THE FINE ART OF USING CHOPSTICKS 

�� 

fried fish, spring mix, shrimp, veggies, 

and my special sauce. 

If you weren’t a chef, what would 

you be? Harry: I was a major in the 

Air Force in Korea. I served for 20 

years. Nana: My dream was to be an 

announcer in my childhood. 

What ingredient can’t you live 

without? Harry: Crab, many rolls have 

crab mix or crab sticks. It boosts the 

overall flavor of rolls. Nana: Seaweed or 

avocado. 

What’s the most important element 

in the preparation of sushi? 

Harry: Good rice. Nana: Same as his, 

in addition to that, fresh fish. 

How would you describe your 

cooking style? Nana: Harry is very 

sensitive and delicate. Harry: Nana 

can be very fast and still in very 

good shape. 

Is there a trick to using chopsticks? 

Harry: I don’t know, I think 

I just learned naturally as I grew. 

Nana: I think it is important to place 

the chopsticks on the right spot. 

What’s the difference between 

sushi and sashimi? Simply, sushi is 

fish on the top of the rice (seasoned 

sushi rice), and sashimi is fish itself. 

When you’re not behind the sushi 

bar, what East Valley restaurant 

do you frequent? We like to try new 

or famous restaurants. We recently 

went to the buffet in Casino Arizona 

on Indian Bend and 101 and we enjoyed 

its ambience and fusion food.

Richard Cho 

OWNER/CHEF @ 

SUSHI EYE 

58 W. BUFFALO ST. #110 

CHANDLER 

(480) 686-8183 

& 

4855 E. WARNER RD., SUITE A29 

PHOENIX 

(480) 820-3376 

City of residence? Phoenix 

What’s the most popular dish on your menu? Why? 

The most popular dish on our menu has got to be our 

sushi rolls. We have a wide selection of rolls to accommodate 

all levels of sushi eaters out there – from chicken 

and beef rolls to rolls with raw fish. 

What’s the most unusual dish on your menu? We don’t 

really have anything that unusual on our menu… but if you 

are a novice sushi eater, maybe the sea urchin (uni) might 

be a challenge. 

What’s the most unusual dish you’ve ever created? Depending 

on the season, we do carry a lot of items outside 

our menu…sea squirt, sea cucumbers, live sweet shrimp, 

and monkfish liver. 

If you weren’t a chef, what would you be? A professional 

golfer. 

What ingredient can’t you live without? Rice 

What’s the most important element in the preparation 

of sushi? A lot of important elements come into factor, but 

if I had to choose, I would say that we take much pride in 

Chopsticks 

101 

Now you know where 

to go, you need to 

know how to be a 

chopsticks pro… 

Hold your dominant 

hand as if you are going 

to shake hands with 

someone. 

Secure the first 

chopstick in the crook 

between your thumb 

and index finger. 

eating and drinking in the loop / 202 DINE / 

preparing our fish and making sure we maintain the highest 

quality and freshness. 

How would you describe your cooking style? Fusion 

style. Enjoy mixing eastern and western flavors together. 

Is there a trick to using chopsticks? The only real trick 

in using chopsticks is just to have fun. Our restaurant can 

offer a quick chopsticks 101 course, or if you like we also 

offer chopstick-training wheels. 

What’s the difference between sushi and sashimi? The 

word “sushi” is used to describe the Japanese cuisine. The 

word “nigiri sushi” is used to describe a style of sushi, usually 

a particular fish over rice. The word “sashimi” is used 

to describe a style of sushi, usually only fish. 

When you’re not behind the sushi bar, what East Valley 

restaurant do you frequent? Well I don’t get out much, 

but if I do I like to support all the local restaurants. 

Place the second chopstick 

on top and hold 

it with your thumb and 

index finger. 

Tuck your ring finger underneath 

the first (lower) 

chopstick. 

Tuck your middle finger 

underneath the second (upper) 

chopstick. To pick up food, 

move the second chopstick up 

and down to grip pieces with the 

ends of the two chopsticks. 


63

202 DINE / eating and drinking in the loop 

64 

In the Mood for Sushi 

Here are some other East Valley spots to try… 

Ah-So 

1919 S. Gilbert Rd. 

Mesa 

(480) 497-1114 

Kabuki 

2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy. 

Tempe 

(480) 350-9160 

Mikado 

3125 S. Alma School Rd. 

Chandler 

(480) 726-0255 

Otaku 


Chandler 

(480) 821-3908 


Saketini Sushi Bar 

& Lounge 

1120 S. Dobson Rd. 

Mesa 

(480) 615-6000 

Shimogamo 

2051 W. Warner Rd. Ste. 14 

Chandler 

(480) 899-7191 

Sushi 101 

920 E. University Dr. 

Tempe 

(480) 317-0101 

Sushiya 


Gilbert 

(480) 786-0588 

Takamatsu of 

Chandler 

3002 N. Arizona Ave. 

Chandler 

(480) 632-5655

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 


65

202 VIEWS / lovin’ life in the loop 

MAX YEAMANS 

Tempe 

} 

66 

MY MOST USED APP IS… 

“I use Twitter apps 

to follow my favorite 

actors, comedians, and 

friends. I also use it for 

breaking news stories 

and deals on products 

from stores like Amazon, 

etc.” 

History: Maps of the World – Find 

detailed maps of Africa, Europe, 

Asia, the Middle East, the U.S., 

and more. 

CHRIS CARTER 

Mesa 


“Gaming apps. If you’re 

a gaming enthusiast, 

there are thousands of 

free and paid games to 

choose from.” 

BRITTANY BLAKE 

Queen Creek 

“Dictionary & thesaurus 

app. It allows me to 

look up words from my 

phone without carrying 

around a dictionary. 

Even without a signal, 

this app works great.” 

FREE Study Apps 

These graphs, maps, and resources help students navigate through 

nights of cramming, better yet they’re free to download on iTunes. 

}Mathemagics Lite – 

Use this tool to 

figure out squares, 

complicated multiplication 

problems 

and more. 


These Chandler-Gilbert Community college 

students are in the mood to share 

} 

USA Presidents 

– Review names, 

numbers, political 

parties, dates, and 

other facts about 

U.S. presidents 

with these virtual 

flash cards.

Sushi Speak - 202 Magazine

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