Fall 2013 Job Watch In & Around Anthem, AZ

The latest Anthem-Area job opportunities are listed below. Listings are reprinted from Online at Anthem for the business community as well as Anthem Community Council. Job openings from Anthem News (In & Out Magazine's new site) follow. Many thanks to our fabulous local publications for supporting our community.

You never know what you might find!

Anthem Business Community Job Listings

· Full-Time RE/MAX Receptionist – Closes 9/13/13.  Assist agents, answer phones, data entry, MS Office. Apply by email to:  jobs@azpros.net.

 · Flexible Part-Time Clerical/Secretarial at Anthem Claim Management – Closes 9/16/13  Data entry, filing, phone. Email resume and cover letter to: sales@anthemclaims.com.

· Experienced Fine Dining Servers needed at Cafe Provence – Closes 9/24/13.  Apply by email to:  bistrop@aol.com.

· Youth Sports Coach/Under-6 at Beginners Edge Sports Training – Closes 9/28/13.  Coach for non-league, curriculum-based, skill-building classes held at Anthem Community Center. Apply online with "Anthem Job Application" in a cover letter to:  jobs@azpros.net.

· Part-Time Retail Sales Associate at Pearl Izumi at Outlets at Anthem - Closes 10/5/13.  Seeking high-energy, outdoor types to support store management in a variety of tasks. Apply online.
Anthem Community Council Jobs – The following jobs are all open until filled.
Email applications to: jobswithanthem@anthemcouncil.com
Fax applications to: 623-742-6170
(In the case of jobs with application deadlines, applications must be received by 5:00 pm Arizona time on the day the job closes; current listings are open until filled.)

 · Full-Time Director of Parks & Facilities Maintenance

 · Full-Time Junior Accountant

 · Part-Time Anthem Community Park Patrol

Also . . .  From the September 5 Issue of In&Out Magazine
"Cheap advertising that really works!"


 · Care Providers for Special Needs Foster Children – Aid to Adoption of Special Kids
Check out job postings from all around the North Valley and beyond at The Foothills Focus.

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

Spring into Summer, Anthem Style

We're not into triple digits yet,                       

but summer's just around the corner and it's time to enjoy the special events of spring . . . music, theater, swimming, butterflies in a rainforest habitat. As you plan your summer, choose from the many activities and classes Anthem has to offer the whole family.

Music in May, Anthem's 11th Annual Free Concert Series returns to the ACC Community Park Amphitheater every Friday night in May, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Online at Anthem covers the event in detail, but here's the high-caliber line-up:

May 3:  Southbound - current and classic country, southern rock, classic rock

May 10:  Apple Beatles Tribute Band - re-creations of everybody's favorites
May 17:   The JJ's Band - high-energy dance, funk, soul, disco, and Motown from the 60's to today
May 24:  Thaddeus Rose Band - three-piece show band covering hits from the 40's to today
May 31:  The Volcano Island Band - festive Calypso, Island, Reggae, Luau, and steel drum

There's no business like show business! We're lucky to have two wonderful theater groups in Anthem offering Summer Camps. Slots fill up fast, so register soon...

Starlight Community Theater  
623-566-7991

Devoted to promoting local theater for actors, dancers, and singers of all ages, Starlight offers two 2-week-long camps (register here) topped off with performances of two children's classics, priced at $250 per workshop for members, $275 for non-members.

June 10 - June 22 - Sleeping Beauty
​July 15 - July 27 - ​Cinderella

Musical Theatre of Anthem
602-743-9892

May 30 - June 2 and June 6-9:  There's still time to catch Ariel's exploits and sing along in MTA's final presentation of the regular season: Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr.

July 22 - August 2:  Sign up for MTA's popular Summer Performing Arts Institute (SPAI) two-week Workshop, summarized by age group below. Get professional mentorship in vocal technique, acting, musical theatre dance, improv, tap, and theater etiquette, plus... Master Classes for kids 10 and over in audition technique, casting tips, comedic improv, and more. Participants will showcase what they've learned in three live performances at 6:00, 7:15, and 8:30 p.m. the final evening of the workshop, August 2.

Ages 6-9, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - $225
Ages 6-9, 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (includes Tap) - $275
Ages 10-12 and 13-19 (grouped by age) 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - $425

"Butterflies are self-propelled flowers."

Much as I wish that lovely thought came from me, I quote Linda and Dick Buscher, who quote sci-fi writer Robert H. Heinlein in their recent article, "The Largest Butterfly Pavilion on the Continent"  about Butterfly Wonderland, a living rainforest experience opening May 25 at the new facility located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Scottsdale. This one's worth a field trip!

Time to think about the summer schedule... Read all about Youth and Adult Summer Fitness Classes, Aquatics and other sports and facilities available to residents in the handy new Online Anthem Community Center Activity Guide. Register in person or from ACC's registration page.

Did you know... that "tonsorial" is an old-fashioned word for barbershop? Just down the road from Anthem, time travel to the 1800's Pioneer Living History Museum and see for yourself how the Arizona pioneers lived. This authentic village boasts a sheriff's office, jail, schoolhouse, saloon, church, gallows, graveyard, and ye olde shoppes of all kinds - including tonsorial. Open Wednesdays through Sundays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., with expanded summer hours 7:00 a.m - 11:00 p.m. starting June 1.

Get it while it's fresh!
May is the Anthem Farmer's Market's last month here until October. Get farm-fresh seasonal produce, natural meats, fish, and other locally produced food Sundays 9:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Anthem Community Park through June 2. Sponsored by Arizona Community Farmers Markets.

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

 Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

2012 End-of-Year Jobs In and Around Anthem, AZ

The volume of open positions has risen this month! Many thanks to our fabulous local publications for supporting our community.

Here are the current job listings from Freedom Way Magazine, published by Anthem Community Council and found at Online at Anthem for the business community as well as Anthem Community Council. Job openings from In&Out Magazine follow. (You can browse In&Out at their new url:  www.anthemnews.com; pull down the In&Out Magazine tab.)

Check it out . . . You never know what you might find!

Anthem Community Job Listings


 · Pizza Team Member – Closes 12/22/12  Click HERE for more information.
 · Pizza Prep Person – Closes 12/22/12  Click HERE for more information.
 · From-Home Internet Marketing Executive – Closes 12/26/12  Click HERE for more information.
 · Part-Time Anthem Country Club Plumber (Independent Contractor) – Closes 12/27/12  Click HERE for more information.
 · Part-Time Anthem Electrician (Independent Contractor) – Closes 12/27/12  Click HERE for more information.
 · Personal Car Detailer / Washer – Closes 12/27/12  Click HERE for more information.

Anthem Community Council Jobs – The following jobs are all open until filled.
Email applications to: jobswithanthem@anthemcouncil.com
Fax applications to: 623-742-6170
(In the case of jobs with application deadlines, applications must be received by 5:00 pm Arizona time on the day the job closes; current listings are open until filled.)

 · Full-Time Communications Specialist
 · Part-Time Before- / After-School C.A.R.E Counselor (2 positions)
 · Part-Time Age Group Aquatics Coach

From the December 6 Issue of In&Out Magazine

 · Activity Assistant for Developmentally Disabled Adults – Young-minded, positive, energetic team players with a sense of humor needed to help developmentally disabled adults swim, bowl, fish, play basketball, watch movies, play games, etc. Call Jen 623-551-6134.

Last but not least . . . you may want to check out job postings from all around the North Valley and beyond at The Foothills Focus.

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

Summer in Anthem Goes Out with a Bang

We’re still topping 110^º but signs of Fall are popping up around Anthem, in sports, arts, politics, fun, and of course… it’s back to school for Anthem’s public and private school students. Check important school dates compiled by Freedom Way Magazine.

First, Congratulations are in order to everyone involved in creating Anthem’s Veterans Memorial we wrote about last fall. As reported in Online at Anthem the Memorial was presented with the 2012 Public Works Project of the Year award by the Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA), and honored at their August 7 conference. The project will go on to be considered for the 2012 National Public Works Project of the Year Award. Good work and good luck!

8/13 – Big Splash Water Park begins Fall hours. Starting the week of August 13, the Park will be open only on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 5:00 p.m.

8/14 – Meet Your Candidates  Don’t miss a great opportunity to meet candidates for the offices of US Senate, US District 8 Representative, Arizona Legislative District 1 (Senate and Representative), multiple county positions, and Justice of the Peace for Desert Ridge. As reported in Images Magazine and Online at Anthem, the New River/Desert Hills Community Association (NR/DHCA) will be hosting its bi-annual “Meet Your Candidates Night” Tuesday, August 14 at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church, located at 42425 N. New River Road, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

8/18 – Starlight Community Theater Auditions  Casting call for Starlight’s upcoming youth production of “The Wizard of Oz” is taking place August 18 at 9 a.m., in the Safeway Center, Suite B119. Auditions for lead roles and a no-cut ensemble cast. Starlight has four shows scheduled through February. For more information, visit www.starlightcommunitytheater.org.

Musical Theatre of Anthem has ten shows planned through June. Click HERE for more information on their 2012-13 schedule. Auditions are upcoming for the final six shows of the season. Click HERE for their audition schedule.

8/20 – Anthem Soccer Club Tryouts  for U-9 boys, U-10 boys, U-10 girls and U-13 boys teams to compete in the 2012-13 AYSA Soccer League season. For details on specific teams, please contact Mark Kerlin at 623-582-2413 or markkerlin@hotmail.com

8/24 – Merle Norman Hosts Ladies Night Out, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  As part of its Social Event Series, the Anthem Community Council has partnered with Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio, located at 39512 N. Daisy Mountain Drive, Ste. 176 in the Anthem Crossroads Shopping Center, for a night of fun, food, beauty consultations, shopping and more. For more information, call 623-551-9502.

8/25 – Anthem Community Day with the Diamondbacks  Cheer on the Arizona Diamondbacks as they take on the San Diego Padres at 5:10 p.m. at Chase Field. Anthem Community Council partners with the D-Backs to offer Anthem Day and $32 tickets (down from $35), which includes all-you-can-eat ballpark fare from the time gates open until the end of the seventh inning, and a special pre-game recognition of Anthem fans! Get your tickets HERE, special offer code: anthem. For more information, contact jsolomon@anthemcouncil.com or 623-742-6065, or go to: http://www.onlineatanthem.com/content/anthem-community-day-with-arizona-diamondbacks .

8/25 Sprint Into Fall at the Anthem Sprint Triathlon  Anthem’s annual reverse order sprint triathlon consists of a 5km run, a fast 20km bike course, and a 400m pool swim to the finish. Kids aged 5-12 will start at 6:45 a.m. and follow a modified course of a half-mile run, a 4.5 mile bike, and a 200m pool swim. Men will follow with a start time of 7:15 a.m., and women will start at 7:30 a.m. Overall awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers. Age group awards will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers per five-year age groups. Register early at www.Active.com to receive discounted rates. For more information, visit www.4peaksracing.com.

9/1 – Duck Daze Race  Join us on Labor Day Weekend for a fun afternoon at the Anthem Community Park – and benefit various North Valley non-profit groups in the process. There will be food, games, entertainment, a silent auction - and a Duck Race through the ponds and over the falls. To purchase ducks at $20 each, or for more information, contact anthempets@yahoo or visit Anthem Pets.

Fall Group Swim Lessons Still Available  Group swim lessons will continue to be offered at the Community Center throughout the fall, during two sessions: August 25 to September 22, and September 29 to October 20. All classes last 30 minutes and will be held Saturdays at 10:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. More info:   http://www.freedomwaymagazine.com/fall-group-swim-lessons-still-available

9/4 – The Arizona Sunrays Dance Into Anthem to offer several dance classes at the Community Center on Thursday evenings. Providing quality gymnastics and dance instruction throughout the Valley for over 21 years, the Sunrays are partnering with Valley-wide programs to provide children an accessible means for movement and exercise. $105 for an eight-week session (September 4 to October 27) and $92.50 for a seven-week session (October 30 to December 15). Classes are 45 minutes long. For more information, call 602-992-5790 or email michael@arizonasunrays.com.

A word about our sources. We thank and credit the talented publishers, writers, and photographers who first listed these events In their unique ways they provide an incredible service to the Anthem community and help to make it the vibrant and friendly place we all call home. We couldn’t blog without you! Find out more about the who, what, and where of Anthem at: www.onlineatanthem.com , http://www.freedomwaymagazine.com , www.imagesaz.com , and www.ioanthem.com .

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Job Watch August 2012, Anthem, AZ

You may not think of the words "job market" and "Anthem" together, but our incredible local publications list an array of open positions each month. We thank them for supporting our community!

Here are the August listings from Freedom Way Magazine, published by Anthem Community Council and found at Online at Anthem for the business community as well as Anthem Community Council. Job openings from In&Out Magazine follow.

Check it out . . . You never know what you might find!

Anthem Community Job Listings
 · Pool Cleaner – Closes 8/10/12  Experienced pool cleaner needed. Company vehicle provided. Must have clean driving record. Click HERE for more information.
 · Caretaker – Closes 8/10/12  We are seeking a part-time caretaker for elderly Anthem woman. You must be able to do light cleaning and to help with personal care, including showering, etc. Caring but able-bodied senior preferred. Click HERE for more information.
 · Marketing from Home  – Closes 8/11/12  Looking for 8-10 folks who are motivated folks who want to earn a reliable, residual income around their family. Marketing for a 27-year old consumer direct health/wellness manufacturing company. No sales, no investments, no risk. Income plus bonuses. Click HERE for more information.
 · Service Technician  – Closes 8/15/12  Change filters, deliver salt, service/install water softeners and service water heaters. Click HERE for more information.
 · Front Office Receptionist  – Closes 8/22/12  Responsibilities include answering multiple phone lines, scheduling appointments, checking in/out patients, filing and scanning for growing podiatry practice in Northwest Phoenix. This is a part-time position. Click HERE for more information.
 · Certified Compounding Technicians  – Closes 8/29/12  Immediate full-time openings at Roadrunner Pharmacy. Certified Compounding Technicians with current license a must. Busy, fast-paced, no weekends or nights. Excellent benefit package and pay! Click HERE for more information.
 · Cafeteria Food Service Worker  – Closes 8/29/12  Three part-time openings at Canyon Springs Kitchen for entire 2012-2013 school year. Perfect job for those who want to be off the same days their children are out of school. Food preparaton, customer service, team work, use and care of equipment including washing of dishes. Maricopa County Health Department Food Handler's Certificate required. Please call Gail 623-376-5214 or e-mail gail.kurtz@dvusd.org. Click HERE for more information.

Anthem Community Council Jobs
 · Part-Time Service Desk Customer Service Representative – Open Until Filled
 · Part-Time Courtesy Patrol – Open Until Filled

From the August Issue of In&Out Magazine
 · Part-Time Drivers – Our Kitchen to Yours – Deliver lunch to Drs. Offices in Phoenix/Scottsdale Mon-Fri or select days 10:30 – 1:00. Call Donna 623-261-8727.
 · Activity Assistant for Developmentally Disabled Adults – Young-minded, positive, energetic team players with a sense of humor needed to help developmentally disabled adults swim, bowl, fish, play basketball, watch movies, play games, etc. Call Jen 623-551-6134.
 · Teacher needed in Anthem Mon-Thurs mornings, 12-16 hours per week. Send resume to jayrite333@yahoo.com.

Last but not least . . . you may want to check out job postings from all around the North Valley and beyond at The Foothills Focus.

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

Fun in the Sun - Summer Happenings in Anthem, AZ

The list of ways to have fun in Anthem this summer is (almost) endless!
Find your favorites below...

 

Anthem's 13th Annual Independence Day Celebration
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Anthem Community Park

Bring your lawn chairs and get ready to have a great time! Rides, food, music, and friends… Festivities for this year’s Celebration start at 6:00 p.m. and include a DJ, dancing, stilt walkers, bounce houses, slides, and new this year, a 160-foot zipline for $5 per ride and a double orbitron that you can ride with a friend for $5 each. Performance by this year's Anthem Idol winners will take place at 9:15 p.m., and fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., right after the Daisy Mountain Fire Department Color Guard presents colors and an a cappella performance of the National Anthem. Click here for more details,

Located just west of I-17 on Pioneer Road, the Pioneer Living History Museum is pleased to offer the following two events. For more information about the Museum and other events offered, see www.pioneeraz.org .

 
Movies Under the Stars
Movies will start at 6:30 p.m.
July 14  “Tombstone” presented by Wyatt Earp
July 28  “Angels in the Outfield”

Young Rembrandts (one-day) Drawing Classes
July 20 at 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Preschool Children (ages 4 to 6)
July 20 at 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Elementary School Children (ages 6 to 12)
$15 (includes admission for child and parent)

These Western-themed drawing classes are taught in the Young Rembrandts method www.youngrembrandts.com, an acclaimed, step-by-step drawing method presented through an innovative art curriculum developed by a team of educators and artists. Pre-registration is encouraged.

 
Starlight Community Theatre
Camp Rising Star Summer Session Two: Disney's The AristoCats Kids

July 9 – 20, 9 am – 12 pm, M-F
Performances: July 21 @ 3 pm & 7 pm
39506 North Daisy Mountain Drive, Suite 122-159, Anthem

Ages 6 - 14 - $225 for non-members, $200 for members
Sibling Discount – $25 off full tuition per additional student living in same household
For more details, see our April 2012 blog post about Starlight, or see their website.

The Musical Theatre of Anthem 
2012 Summer Performing Arts Institute

July 2 - 20 (two weeks) - Triple Threat Performer Intensive Workshop 
for Singing, Dancing, and Acting

July 23 - August 3 (two weeks) - Summer Performing Arts Institute
42323 N. Vision Way, Anthem
602-743-9892

In a category all its own! Directors, Vocal Directors, Choreographers and Casting Directors from all over the Valley will be teaching vocal technique, acting, musical theatre dance, tap, improv, theater etiquette, master classes with audition technique, casting tips, stage combat and more!

Top-notch instructors and a well-seasoned production staff lead programs grouped by age. For full details of these excellent classes, click here. At the end of the program, a live performance will be presented featuring snippets of MTA’s fabulous fifth season - including season opener Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."

Anthem Community Center
Summer 2012

Read the Anthem Community Center Activity Guide online here.

Sign up early at the Community Center for Anthem's extensive offering of summer activities and classes in music, art, exercise, cheerleading, camping, science, and of course - swimming! Anthem also offers an incredible variety of adult and youth sports, including including basketball, baseball, football, lacrosse, roller hockey, soccer, tennis, and much more. The adult sports program offers men and women an opportunity to participate in organized leagues in a recreational setting, at the same level of variety as the youth program.

Check out Online at Anthem's Calendar here, and search programs here.

Around Town

Get involved and get informed… without leaving town! Anthem is a goldmine of ongoing fun and information, with activities as wide-ranging as Zumba Dance classes, Friday night live music at Ochos Locos, pool parties, live theater, parenting classes, job search seminars, Kids Days at Peter Piper Pizza, Monthly Social Nights for Golden Go-Getters, and last but not least, 10% off ice cream Family Nights at KaleidoScoops. Freedom Way Magazine nicely summarizes the fun.

North Valley Regional Library
40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway
602-652-3000



Everybody knows about Anthem's fabulous Library. We had a lot to say about it on this blog last February. But we were intrigued by this summer’s activites for all ages. Along with the usual reading, computer, and job search programs, you will find Baby Playtime, Tweens Puppet Workshop, Teen Henna Classes, Paranormal Activity, Social Snakes, Beadmaking, Adult Yoga, and the popular Classic Film Series. Check out www.mcldaz.org for details.


 
K-9 Korral
41635 Old Black Canyon Highway, New River
623-551-2234

Walk the dog in New River’s friendly 2 ½ acre, national award-winning dog park. The K-9 Korral features solar-powered lights, security system, and water pumps. The members only policy keeps owners responsible, dogs safe, and the park clean. Annual Membership Fee  $35 / one dog  $50 / two or more dogs. Open 7 a.m. to dusk—up to 8:30 p.m. For more information, click here.

A word about our sources. We thank and credit the talented publishers, writers, and photographers who first listed these events In their unique ways they provide an incredible service to the Anthem community and help to make it the vibrant and friendly place we all call home. We couldn’t blog without you! Find out more about the who, what, and where of Anthem at: www.onlineatanthem.com , http://www.freedomwaymagazine.com , www.imagesaz.com , and www.ioanthem.com .

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

Starlight Community Theater Shines in Anthem

It’s hard to believe another school year is winding down! As you plan your summer, check out Anthem’s own Starlight Community Theater for something new, fun, and educational.

Serving the community since 2006, Starlight Community Theater is dedicated to providing live theater experiences on and off the stage, for youth and adults. In addition to the run of their final production of the 2011–12 season, Once Upon A Mattress, Starlight offers a summer Acting Workshop for all ages, "Acting and Composition" – brought to the North Valley by the highly esteemed Pasha W. Yamotahari of Phoenix Theater. Camp Rising Star offers two sessions producing Disney plays The Jungle Book Kids and The AristoCats Kids. See Starlight's Calendar here. (For Discount Rates on Workshops and Camp Sessions, or to support the theater, become a Starlight Member!)

Once Upon a Mattress – based on the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea
According to the Starlight Community Theater's website, it may not have been a pea that kept the Princess awake! You will be "carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans!" You can still catch the final performances of the season:

Friday, April 27, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 28, 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29, 3:00 p.m.
Suite #B-119, Safeway Center
3655 W Anthem Way, Anthem

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, and can be purchased through PayPal online at www.StarlightCommunityTheater.org or at the door (cash only). For group sales, please contact the ticket manager at StarlightTickets@hotmail.com. Midfirst Bank will match $1,000 in support of Starlight Community Theater. Your small change can make a big difference!  Check under your mattress and bring your loose coin donations to the performance.

Acting Workshop 2012 (for ages 7 and up) – Acting and Composition
Fine tune your acting skills with this workshop dedicated to strengthening your body, your characters’ emotional reveal and its relation to objects on stage. Led by Pasha W. Yamotahari, this workshop puts emphasis on using creativity and physical storytelling to take command of your character in relation to the world you’re in.

May 19, 2012, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Workshop Tuition is $50 for non-members, $40 for members
Suite #B-119, Safeway Center
3655 W Anthem Way, Anthem

Camp Rising Star (Get Registration Forms for Jungle Book here and for AristoCats here.)


Session One: Disney's The Jungle Book Kids
June 11 – 22, 9 am – 12 pm M-F & 1 pm – 4 pm T & Th
Performances: June 23 @ 3 pm & 7 pm
Ages 7 – 16
$250 for members, $275 for non-members
Sibling Discount – $25 off full tuition per additional student living in same household


Session Two: Disney's The AristoCats Kids
July 9 – 20, 9 am – 12 pm, M-F
Performances: July 21 @ 3 pm & 7 pm
Ages 6 - 14
$225 for non-members, $200 for members
Sibling Discount – $25 off full tuition per additional student living in same household

Support this excellent organization. Find out about Starlight Community Theater's sponsorship opportunities here.

Posted by Doreen Drew

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

Click "like" below to get the latest home listings from Anthem Arizona from Facebook...

Mars and Venus Buy a House

(from the Archives)

Men and women have always had their differences, and—let’s face it—buying a house is no exception. A 1,000-respondent omnibus phone survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate gives us some clues as to gender similarities and differences. Are any of these true for you and your partner? First, the differences:

Decision-making speedIt is the women who make the faster decisions when it comes to buying a house. Surprised? The fairer sex is more likely to decide on a house the day they walk into it, possibly because they rely on gut feeling. Men, often more logic-oriented, need more time and more visits to make a final decision.

Proximity to job and family Women prefer to be close to extended family over their jobs, while just the opposite is true for a significantly majority of men polled. Makes sense, considering traditional caretaker/breadwinner roles make sense for many couples.

Individual financial decisionsMore men than women think they “wear the pants” when it comes to major financial decisions like buying a house, although some women so feel this way too. Curiously enough, most of the respondents—men and women—said that they, and not their partners, were the ones more likely to make major decisions. Perception is everything!

Here are some areas the sexes generally see eye-to-eye on:

Mutual financial decisionsWhether men or women think they have more decision-making power, a high percentage of couples prefer to share the responsibility and make major financial decisions together.

Use of spare roomsBoth men and women are fairly practical about how a spare room should be used—choosing bedroom, study, and den, in that order. Interestingly, men make up the majority of a small group of respondents who would convert a spare room into a recreation room, or “man cave.” It seems pool tables, darts, and pinball machines have their place!

SecurityA high percentage of both men and women would back out of a promising deal if safety becomes an issue, although this factor is more important to women than men.

What does it all mean?Each couple is unique. Pay special attention and it’s easier to understand what matters to your partner. It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to talk before you make a decision. In the end, statistics provide perspective, but nothing can replace good old-fashioned communication, especially when it comes to such an important decision as buying a home!

Posted by Doreen Drew at Coldwell Banker Daisy Mountain Real Estate

Check out Anthem's real estate market and see more of Doreen's listings.

We welcome your comments . . .

The Eye of the Beholder - Your Home's Value

(from the Archives)

What is your home worth? The best answer: whatever a typical buyer is willing to pay for it in a fair and open market. But what is it worth hypothetically speaking if you don’t plan to put it on the market anytime soon—or ever?

It depends on who is asking the question and why they are asking. The most common sources of home valuation are: real estate agents, appraisers and the lenders who typically hire them, and online sources like Zillow.

Real estate agents who want to list your home may suggest a value based on their extensive, ongoing knowledge of the local market and what they see in your home—the same sources an appraiser uses, without measurements and calculations. They tend to rely on “gut” feeling, quite a formidable source in a seasoned agent. A good realtor might come up with a more accurate number than an appraiser, especially in a changing market. That’s why lenders and other interested parties sometimes get a casual written valuation, a “broker price opinion” or BPO.

Appraisals are required by lending institutions to establish that the loan amount for a sale or refinance is worth their risk, or has an acceptable “loan-to-value” ratio. A full appraisal is based on an inspection and measurement of the home including its interior and exterior amenities and upgrades as well as site, location, and environmental factors. This in-depth picture of the property is then compared point-by-point to similar properties, or “comps” in a market analysis. An appraisal is considered to be a solid, conservative indicator of the property’s value as of a particular date.

In this post-recession market, heavily influenced by bank owned foreclosures and short sales, appraisers and realtors look at both “distress” sales and “retail” or conventional sales to determine value. The lending industry has impacted the market in an interesting way by modifying some but not all distressed loans and by dealing directly with parties to a short sale transaction to determine sale price, creating a category of sales not determined by fair market forces. In most areas, value probably falls somewhere in between.

Zillow and other online valuation services are snazzy and fun and instantaneous. But most agents consider Zillow too broad-spectrum to provide any real guidance on value. Based on computer algorithms, Zillow values are great for a quick overview, but they do not account for the wild fluctuations in value often seen in one neighborhood or even one block—caused by luxury homes or other exceptional properties alongside foreclosures, short sales, and conventional sales.

It’s only human nature to place your own property’s value at the high end of a cluster of Zillow sales. It’s also human nature to consider your lender’s appraisal far too conservative for all the work you’ve put into your house. Often, a home’s true value lies somewhere in the middle… or, short sales aside, at exactly what the highest bidder in an open market pays!

Posted by Doreen Drew

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When you're ready for your dream home in Arizona contact Doreen Drew at 623 879-3277 or email her at doreen.drew@coldwellbanker.com. Also visit her website.

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Depute Sheriff William Coleman, Rest in Peace

(From the Archives)

Deputy Coleman, we thank you for your courage, dedication, and service to our community.

Our hearts go out to the family, co-workers, and friends of Deputy Coleman, who gave his life in the service of our community. He was tragically shot and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning, January 8, while responding to a burglary call in Anthem. Coleman is survived by his wife, Beth and four children, his father, as well as extended family. He would have turned 51 next week.

As reported yesterday at azcentral.com, family members remember Coleman as “a devoted father and friend who loved fishing, hunting and working.” He was known as “a tough guy on the outside but a teddy bear on the inside.”

“Bill would always make you laugh and would always help anyone out. Bill has touched many lives; he will be missed but not forgotten," Beth Coleman said in a statement she issued yesterday. Coleman had completed 20 years of service. "Bill sacrificed everything to protect us and our community,” she said.

Beth thanked the community for their support. “The love… from the community is helping [the family] cope as they work through the many emotions of this senseless crime.”

How You Can Participate

The public visitation for Deputy William Coleman is Thursday, January 12, at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Friday, also at the Baptist Church.

You may donate to the Deputy William Coleman Memorial Fund at Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, account number: 6000123586.

This Thursday, January 12, from 2 to 10 p.m., Hands Across Anthem will hold a fundraiser at Wendy’s in Anthem, which will donate 20% of purchases made between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. to Hands Across America in honor of Deputy Coleman.

Hands Across Anthem will also hold a Community Walk to honor Deputy Coleman, forming a human chain by joining hands. Meet at the corner of Anthem Way and Gavilan Peak Sunday, January 22, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Signatures and condolences will be collected for a special album to be given to Deputy Coleman’s family. Donations and proceeds collected from t-shirt sales will also go to support Coleman’s family.

Leave a reflection on the Officer Down Memorial Page.

(Read JJ Hensley’s full article on the family’s remembrances.)

Musical Theatre of Anthem: Quality Performance Art in Our Own Back Yard

Have you heard… about our very own Musical Theatre of Anthem? MTA is an unsung treasure, offering performance art training and practice for all ages and enhancing the community. It certainly bears mention… and a lot of appreciation!

Hurry, hurry! The next presentation, and a great family night out, is Disney’s Aladdin, happens this week at Boulder Creek High School Mini Auditorium! Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie will take you into a world of magic carpets and just plain magic. Playing October 13–15 at 7:00 p.m., with matinee performances at 3:00 October 15 and 16 (matinee only that day). This presentation is sure to please children—and kids at heart. Check out the rest of the 2011–12 season, at http://www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org/season.html. Musical Theatre of Anthem has many more great plays planned.


MTA’s mission, according to their website www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org, is “to develop youth and adults within the field of performing arts while enhancing their intrinsic creativity and brokering their vast talents. MTA trains and educates youth so they can become the artists, patrons, and leaders of tomorrow while providing opportunities to adults to empower them and foster their creativity.” How lucky are we here in Anthem?

MTA began in 2008 when Jackie and Jeff Hammond decided to bring their considerable strengths in business and theatre together to form a great theatre experience here in Anthem. Jeff Hammond, Managing Director, currently works in the technologies department of a Fortune 500 financial services company. He graduated with honors from San Francisco State University and earned an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Colorado.

Producing Artistic Director Jackie Stewart Hammond brings twenty years of music and theatre teaching experience to MTA. A musician in her own right, she is a graduate of San Jose State University, where she majored in Creative Arts and minored in Musical Theatre. She also studied a wide range of performing arts at the American Musical Theatre Artists' Institute. You can read more about MTA and its founders at http://www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org/about.html.

From its humble beginnings, MTA has rapidly flourished here in Anthem to become a Musical Theatre we can be proud of. Its quality is obvious from its impressive list of awards, including: Two 2010–11 Season AriZoni Awards, and 16 nominations; Nickelodeon's Parents Connect Parents' Picks Award for Best Theatre Group for Kids in Arizona; the 2011 National Youth Arts Awards for Outstanding Production; Outstanding Ensemble – Junior Division; and several other awards for specific actors.

Hats off to our talented, hard-working neighbors, Jeff and Jackie Hammond!

Posted by Doreen Drew

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Welcome Autumn in Style at Anthem, AZ Autumnfest!

Well, it's almost that time of the year again… I'm talking about Fall! After so many days over 110 degrees, I'm sure everyone is ready to welcome this beautiful season. I can already feel it in the air. Here in Anthem, we are privileged to have the Anthem Autumnfest to help usher in the best time of the year. This dates of our fourth annual Autumfest this year fall on the weekend of October 22-23 in Anthem Community Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with rides lighting up the sky into the night.

I can just smell the popcorn and cotton candy now… that’ll be the eagerly anticipated Frazier Show Carnival making one of its semi-annual Anthem appearances. Brave the rides and ferris wheel or just stroll and greet friends. You’ll find many other activities for the whole family, including a Pumpkin Patch, where you can purchase and decorate your Halloween pumpkin. Start your Christmas shopping early at the Arts and Crafts Fair. Kids will enjoy many activities in the Kids Zone, featuring inflatables, pony rides, barrel rides, and hay rides. Sounds like fun to me!

After all that activity, you may work up quite an appetite. Not to worry! There’s always the Food Court and Rotary Beer Garden—for those who have acquired that taste. And don’t forget to plan ahead for the ever-popular Autumnfest Chili Cook-Off and the Apple Pie Baking Contest, both hosted by Anthem Neighborhood Watch. These are sure to be a lot of fun, and delicious too! If you want to compete in either of these contests, the sign-up deadline is October 12, 5 p.m. All the information you need to sign up, plus the rules, are at www.onlineatanthem.com. It's free, and it’s sure to be great fun, so dig into your recipe box and get started!

Help usher in our beautiful Anthem Autumn. By October, the weather should be perfect. And fall’s a great time to get out to our incredible park and meet your friends and neighbors for a fun-filled day at Anthem Autumnfest… See you there!

Posted by Doreen Drew

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