SCOTTSDALE CULTURAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT FUNDING

Scottsdale Cultural Council trustee Carol Fehring Irvin chaired the panel and commented, "We were very pleased with the diversity of applications and the quality of work that is being produced by Scottsdale organizations as well as Valley-wide organizations that present programs in Scottsdale.    Adults and youth who are residents and visitors will have great opportunities to participate in stellar programs in the coming year.  My only disappointment is that there were not adequate funds to support all the worthy projects that were submitted." Story Continues

WELLS FARGO BEGINS COLLECTION DRIVE FOR AZ FOOD BANKS
Summer Collection Drive Continues Through July 15
 Wells Fargo today began a two-week drive to collect food for food banks throughout Arizona.  Food collection bins have been placed in the 260-plus Wells Fargo Community Banking stores throughout the state.  The drive will continue until July 15. 

Donations will benefit members of the Association of Arizona Food Banks, whose members distribute more than 80 million pounds of food each year, enough to provide 168,600 meals every day through 1,100 sites.  People who wish to donate cash can send checks to the Association of Arizona Food Banks, 2100 N. Central Ave., Ste. 230, Phoenix, AZ 85004.  Donations also may be made online at http://www.azfoodbanks.org/?action=gid_62.Story Continues

West Valley Art Museum 17420 North Avenue of the Arts Surprise,AZ 85374 623-972-0635 wvam.org

Mahaffey exhibit at Museum of Northern AZ
 Renowned Grand Canyon Painter Merrill Mahaffey Is Honored at the Museum of Northern Arizona with a 50-Year Retrospective Show and Gala Weekend Opening Weekend to include Gala Dinner and Brunch at the Museum of Northern Arizona

 A Gala Weekend is scheduled for June 21st and 22nd in conjunction with the opening of the new exhibit Merrill Mahaffey: Interior Landscapes of the West, A Fifty-Year Retrospective. Meet the artist and dine alongside the Rio de Flag at two featured events at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

 MNA’s 2nd Annual Summer Fundraising Gala Dinner, Live Auction, and Exhibit is Saturday June 21. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $250 per person and underwriting opportunities are available. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Some of the Mahaffey paintings on exhibit will be for sale.

 An Artist Reception and Brunch for Museum Members on Sunday, June 22 at 10 a.m. includes a silent auction and exhibit sales. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased in advance along with memberships. Underwriting opportunities are available.

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The Longhorn Saloon and Grill Grand Opening
What were you doing on Friday night May 30th? If you were not at the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, then whatever you were doing you were doing it in the wrong place. The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is the new "In" place in the West Valley. It is family owned and operated with five star roots that reach into some of the best New York restaurants. Maybe even one or two highlighted in the long running television series and just released movie.

 Chef Charles Steppe and his brother Chris opened their restaurant the first part of this year but on the 30th they held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their becoming members of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce one of the fasts growing chambers in the West Valley. Chris and Charles and their mother Nancy Tuatagaloa welcomed David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber along with a large number of Chamber members, and Youngtown Mayor Michael LeVault and Councilmember Dorena Mello and several other Councilmembers to the Longhorn. Three generations of the family Chris, Nancy and Shay (the chef's daughter) took part in the ribbon cutting. Charles was busy in the kitchen preparing the feast for their guests. Included in this were hamburger and pulled pork sliders, fried mushrooms, chicken croquettes, pigs-in-a-blank, stuffed pasta and fruit, all in large quantities, no one left hungry. If you missed the events of the 30th including Emil Flaim the pianist/singer who entertained everyone throughout the evening, you can enjoy the Longhorn for lunch and dinner throughout the week in their sports bar, lounge or dinning room.

 The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is located at 13232 N. 111th Ave., just South of Grand in Youngtown. For all who have no idea of where Youngtown is, the town of just over 6,000 is located on the Agua Fria River in the West Valley, South of Grand Ave., and just West of Sun City. Nearby attractions include the Bradshaw Mountains, Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the University of Phoenix Stadium. Youngtown still enjoys the tranquil, small town feel while providing residents with five parks, its own police force, a library, clubhouse, a lake, beautiful sunsets and wildlife. The town is a vibrant mix of young singles, families, professionals, blue collar and retirees, and is close to all the great shopping, entertainment, art and work locations in the West Valley. The next time your looking for a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere just head over to the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, it's worth the gas. If you would like information on their live entertainment, specials or just need directions call 623-933-6023.

On the left in the cowboy hat is the well known Arizona Dude who partook in the celebration at the invitation of Panorama Hills Monthly. On the right in the suite is David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber. And in the center cutting the ribbon is Nancy with her son Chris and her granddaughter Shay.

WELLS FARGO INCREASES REWARD* TO $55,000
 Wells Fargo & Company is offering up to $55,000 for original information leading to identification, arrest and conviction in connection with robberies at the company’s Arizona Community Banking stores.  The reward is an increase from a reward Wells Fargo originally announced April 3. Story Continues

Geoglyphs in Desert Hills

 By LeeAnn Sharpe
Pete Norris is a man on a mission. His mission is to document and save ancient geoglyphs in the desert along Carefree Highway that are in the path of future development.

 Geoglyphs are drawings made by ancient peoples on the ground, in this case using various size and types of rocks to form a pattern and tell a story.   

 Norris is an expert at crytanalysis, or the art of breaking codes. He believes that the geoglyphs he found in north Phoenix depict a known astronomical event some 4,000 years ago. The pattern and number of rocks clearly describe, to the trained eye, where the event happened and for how long. It tells of a meteor event, the number of meteor showers and the direction they crossed the ancient skies. The event is known to astronomers and has been recorded elsewhere in history on pottery and wall art and is documented to have occurred in 3,200B.C. "The sequences and the counts line up with this meteor event," he said.

 The only question is whether these geoglyphs are as ancient as the event itself or a retelling of the story by more recent inhabitants of the area.  Story Continues with Pictures

Letter from the President at MS Corner
Hello to one and all, for this letter is not only for the readers of MS Corner, but also for our entire group.

 As I was reading through a monthly publication of some sort, I came upon some weight loss ideas for those of us who have put on too much weight over the summer, or simply because we’re just too weak to say no to eating unhealthy foods. Story Continues

Pictured at right Chef Aurore de Beauduy with husband and co-owner Roman Yasinsky
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