Do you live in Mesa or the Southeast Phoenix Valley and love to knit? You will want to check out The Fiber Factory. This store is famous for having one of the widest selections of knitting products of any place in the Phoenix Valley. There is more than 4000 sq ft of yard and supplies for knitting, weaving, spinning, crochet, tatting, basketry or Navajo weaving. There are also classes to help learn all these arts and skills. Visit their website to learn more about his unique area treasure.

The Fiber Factory is an official destination on the contest - Think Outside the Sox. This fun and unique contest runs through January 1, 2009. Check out the contest website to lern more. There is more than $20,000.00 in contest money as a part of this fun contest. This could be a fun way to spend some hours in the upcoming hot summer season.

If you happen to be near the Scottsdale Civic Center and are seeking a wonderful place where you can enjoy eating outdoors look for the AZ 88 Bar and Restaurant. This is a chic and stylish restaurant with a wonderful outdoor patio. Located at 7353 Scottsdale Mall in Scottsdale Arizona, you can call 480-994-5576 for more information about their fare.

Near Southern and 32nd Streets in Phoenix Arizona is a popular destination called The Farm at South Mountain. The site contains acres and acres of farmland and meadows along with picnic benches and countless pecan trees. On site are a number of organic restaurants. One restaurant is The Farm Kitchen where picnic foods are the speciality. There is also a restaurant called Quiessence Restaurant and Wine Bar where fresh local offerings are served in a gourmet fashion. Then there is The Morning Glory Cafe where, as the name indicates, they serve breakfast and brunch items until noon. In addition to all the great food the facility also offers spots on the grounds for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays. There is also a retreat, farmers’ market where one can buy produce, an art studio as well as a doctor’s office. For more info about the events taking place at The Farm at South Mountain visit their website or give them a call at 602-276-6360.

If you live in Pinal County Arizona and are interested in the preservation of wildlife you will want to check out the non-profit called Superstition Area Land Trust or S.A.L.T. for short. In 1993, the Superstition Area Land Trust (S.A.L.T.) was born when a group of residents of the communities and settlements bordering the Superstition Wilderness Area created a nonprofit organization to preserve the riparian areas, native vegetation and wildlife of the vanishing Sonoran Desert.

Most of the land surrounding the Superstitions is owned by the Arizona state land department, whose mandate is to manage the land to fund various public institutions. As urban sprawl creeps eastward from the Phoenix suburbs, pressure to develop more state land increases. The organization is interested in making sure that any development is handled responsibly and with attention to the natural beauty of the Arizona desert.

If you are interested more in S.A.L.T. visit their website.

Thinking about relocating to Arizona, contact Bob and Carolin Benjamin at 480-201-3001. We look forward to connecting with you and helping you with your relocation needs. Visit our website to check the MLS in the area.

 The Apache Junction Arizona Reach Out Food Bank is an emergency food source for people that live within the area defined by Ellsworth Road east to Queen Valley including those who live within the Apache Junction Unified School district. The food bank is in desperate need of food and supplies. As the financial and housing market continues to affect more and more people, there are more requests made to the food bank to help those in need.  If you live in the East Phoenix Valley and can offer donations of food, or know that your business or other group can help, contact them at 480-288-3178, or stop by at 575 N Idaho Road in Apache Junction Arizona to ask how you can assist.

The Apache Junction Library is seeking teenage volunteers ages 12 and older to help run a summer reading program. Participants must be entering the seventh grade or higher. Applications must be turned in no later than May 3rd. If you have a teenager looking for a summer volunteer job and you live in the Apache Junction Arizona area, then this may be an opportunity to check out. More information can be gotten by calling the Apache Junction Public Library Youth Services at 480-474-8555.

Several schools in Pinal County Arizona are needing additional substitute teachers. The school systems are running short of teachers due to illness, family bereavement, jury duty and maternity leave. Residents of Pinal County who are high school GED recipients or college graduates are invited contact Pinal County School office at 75 North Bailey Street in Florence. Interested parties can also check out the Pinal County school website.

Interested in taking the entire family to enjoy an evening of camping, outdoor crafts, big screen movies, stargazing and food? If you are in, or near, Scottsdale Arizona you may want to check out the Starlight Sleepover event slated for April 26 and 27, 2008. The event will be held at the Scottsdale Stadium located at 7408 E Osborn Road in Scottsdale. Activities are oriented for kids 2-10 years of age. For more information call 480-312-7957.

Local First Arizona is a fairly new non profit organization in Arizona oriented to promoting local, independent businesses as a preferred alternative to chain stores. The non profit utilizes things like festivals, wine tastings, art walks and other community activities to help businesses get their name in front of people. The group is working on producing items like community guides and maps to also help foster the effort. Shopping at local merchants puts more money into the local economy as compared to shopping at chains. For more information about this non-profit and how to get involved visit their website.

Arizona is noted as a golf destination. But if you are looking for a golf spot that you can play even when the summer heat arrives, you may want to check out virtual golf in Gilbert Arizona’s Cross Woods golf-center. For $25 you can enjoy golf without a cart and without worrying that someone in front of you is playing too slow. There are munchies and liquid refreshments available also. Located at 522 Baseline in Gilbert Arizona, you can learn more about Cross Woods by checking their website.