Photos By You: West Valley snapshots
Do you have a photo the world needs to see? Show us what is going on in your community. Upload your favorite picture, include a short caption, and we might feature your snapshot in our slide show.

Youth basketball leagues to begin
Registration continues through Dec. 13 for El Mirage's winter youth basketball leagues, coed leagues that emphasize fun, maximum participation, skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Simple courtesy makes shopping easier for disabled
Knowing the hassles holiday shopping brings for the average American, think about the millions of Americans with disabilities who shop alongside them, says advocate Phil Pangrazio.

Toys for Tots fundraiser coming up
A fundraiser for Toys for Tots will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fuzzy's Southwest Sports Grill at Reems Road and Grand Avenue in Surprise.

El Mirage, Dysart and Rio Salado team up on GED
El Mirage has partnered with Rio Salado Community College and the Dysart Unified School District to form the ''El Mirage Adult Basic Education Academy.''

Last month's Interfaith gala raised $75,000
Interfaith Community Care's fifth annual Harvest Moon Gala, which took place last month, was met by great support from the community, with a total of $75,000 raised over the course of the evening.

Vintage baseball games to benefit Willow Canyon club
The Arizona Territory Holiday Classic will be played Saturday at Willow Canyon High School.

Public invited to General Plan meetings
Surprise planners are inviting all residents to attend two upcoming General Plan meetings to discuss proposed changes to the city's future village concept and consider ideas for the beautification of Loop 303.

Hotline provides foreclosure help
Fred Karnas, director of the Arizona Department of Housing, authored this column.

City tourism-panel members being sought
Surprise is accepting applications for the new City Council-appointed Tourism Committee.

Sun City area bridge studio offers fun, friendship
Fun and friendship are most important parts of the game for players at a Sun City-area bridge studio that recently celebrated its anniversary of new ownership.

Surprise's Web site offers help to residents facing foreclosures
The city of Surprise has launched a Web site where residents struggling with home mortgage issues can find resources to assist them.

Surprise 'Yeego!' race pushes runners to 'try harder'
The Heard Museum West on Saturday holds its Second Annual Run West With the Heard: Yéego! wellness race.

Senior center offers friendship, holiday feast
Interfaith Community Care's Chez Nous Center and Café in Sun City West will host its fourth annual Thanksgiving celebration and meal on Nov. 27 at noon.

Holocaust to be examined in Surprise programs
Holocaust survivors will describe their ordeals in detail and lead a public discussion in a three-night program this week at Surprise's Northwest Regional Library.

$6 mil in tobacco funds to help kids in NW Maricopa County
The Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council will receive more than $6 million in First Things First funds to create programs for young children and their families.

Capital Group employees use gas-saving options
A group of Northwest Valley workers committed to saving money and fuel take an express bus each day to and from the Capital Group Companies' northeast Phoenix offices.

Pollster to address local Democrats
Bruce Merrill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University and a national polling expert, will share his analysis of the 2008 Arizona election results at a meeting this week of Sun City Grand Democrats.

Seniors warned of 'grandchild' scam
Attorney General Terry Goddard warns seniors to be cautious if they receive telephone calls from someone who claims to be their grandchild and requests money for an urgent situation.

Best of West honors Longabaugh for Surprise leadership
Surprise's District 1 City Councilman John Longabaugh won the Leadership Award at Westmarc's 16th annual Best of the West awards banquet.

Hungarian Virtuosi Orchestra to launch Chamber Music West season
The Hungarian Virtuosi Orchestra opens the 2008-09 Chamber Music West concert season on at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Surprise seeking proposals for potential future uses of old City Hall
Surprise has issued a request for proposals concerning the current City Hall facility, as the city prepares to move into its new City Hall next summer.

American history as you've never heard it told before
Just in time for the presidential election, the Reduced Shakespeare Company comedy troupe presents the Complete History of America (abridged) - Special Election Edition at Wickenburg's Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Top volunteer for Sun Health Foundation honored
Carlos Wilson is Sun Health Foundation's volunteer of the quarter for October through December 2008, Banner Health has announced.

Remodeled Sundial Recreation Center reopens
After two years of planning and construction, Sun City's newly renovated Sundial Recreation Center is back open for business.

Cross-town rivalry on tap
Willow Canyon High School will celebrate homecoming with a football game vs. cross-town rival Valley Vista High.

New business pampers and perfumes peoples' pets
A pet grooming and boarding facility named Shauna's Paw Spa and Pet Boutique has opened in Surprise.

Lions Club welcomes national president to Surprise event
Lions International President Albert Brandel and his wife, Dr. Maureen Murphy, were in Surprise last week as they presided over Arizona events marking Lions World Sight Day.

El Mirage handyman service receives Bootstrap America's first loan
Bootstrap America has awarded its first business development loan to Arturo Constantini of El Mirage.

Firm helps clients set up, use computers
M W Computer Consultants is a newly-formed computer service and training business that recently opened in the West Valley.

Shakespeare festival visits Surprise on Sunday
Arizona Shakespeare Festival brings the romantic comedy As You Like It to the Surprise Recreation Campus Community Park, 15953 N. Bullard Ave., in a free performance Sunday.

Instant surgery saves Surprise baby's life
When Makayla Miller was born on Sept. 9, she was taken to an operating room where physicians would work to save her life by implanting a pacemaker into her tiny heart.