Mesa Mayor Scott Smith spoke honestly with United Food Bank President Bob Evans on Wednesday.

Because of the actions of two Paz de Cristo Community Center employees and the quick response of Mesa and Tempe fire departments, the facility that serves as a food bank, social services center and dining hall for the homeless and working poor was spared major damage when flames broke out last week.

Across the East Valley this week, educators, school leaders, elected officials, family and friends expressed their sorrow upon hearing about the death of Eddie Basha, Jr.

We learned in school about the inventors such as Edison and Bell who parlayed their inventions into fortunes, of the great capitalists of the Gilded Age such as Rockefeller and Carnegie and Morgan who took great risks on their way to becoming titans of industry.

NEW YORK (AP) — They frolic in empty boxes and stick their heads under faucet streams of water. They dance on tippy toes and fly through the air with Pop-Tarts. They play piano wearing little frocks and get tickled to distraction to the delight of millions on YouTube.

LOS ANGELES — When Jay Mesinger heard about a study seeking golden retrievers to help fight canine cancer, he immediately signed up 2-year-old Louie.

Q: Where can I take my old computers and cell phones to be recycled properly? - Suzanne

Assistance League of East Valley collected 635 books during a Children's Book Drive in support of volunteerism on Make a Difference Day on Oct. 27. The books have been donated to Children First Academy for homeless children, Head Start programs in the Tempe Elementary District, a rural school where many children's parents are incarcerated and Adams Elementary in Mesa.

A few toy cars, a couple of dolls, games, balls — even a bicycle — filled an old fire truck outside a Mesa store.

A major fundraiser to support cancer research and programs for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital is continuing to build on its holiday tradition.

A major fundraiser to support cancer research and programs for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital is continuing to build on its holiday tradition.

Through Dec. 24

There is truly an excitement in the air as the holiday season begins! Traditions include baking cookies, attending festive parties and, of course, playing in the snow. Let’s not forget about kids thinking about what they are going to ask Santa Claus to bring them! What about the families that need a little extra help this season? ABC15 is proud to once again partner with Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln to be part of the annual Operation Santa Claus Charity Drive. The first ten years have resulted in a record number of donations for Valley children’s charities with over 50,000 donations to date.

Members of the Senior Advocacy Group of Ahwatukee (SAGA) would like to extend our gratitude to the Ahwatukee Foothills community for making our Inaugural Symposium on Nov. 3 a tremendous success. Over 175 seniors, caregivers, industry experts, vendors and volunteers attended SAGA Symposium 2012, a first-time educational forum on important local resources hosted by the Pecos Community Center.

For 12 years Ahwatukee Foothills resident Cynthia Laymon and her friend, Mary Chavez, have been making the holidays a little brighter for charities across the Valley by donating beautifully decorated Christmas trees they can reuse year after year.

No doubt about it: Mesa scored much more than prestige when city officials announced plans for the Barry and Peggy Goldwater Library and Archives to be built downtown.

In addition to the many art shows taking place in the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon area this fall and spring - evtnow.com/48i - other circumstances are conjoining to set the area up as a major arts center in Arizona for years to come.

Many of us have attended or at least heard of the popular fall celebration, Octoberfest.

For many families, the end of summer means it's time to put away the inflatable kiddie pools, camping equipment and gardening tools for the season. If you plan to shove this gear into arbitrary piles around the edge of the garage, you're not alone: Many Americans say the garage is the most disorganized room in their home, according to the International Association of Business Organizing.

No tickets? No worries — at least, not if you know where to go for a little free entertainment. Complimentary concerts abound in the East Valley. We love them for those days when our schedules magically open up, giving us a chance for an easy, impromptu outing. Some of our faves:

Several Gilbert Walmart Supercenters have made donations to help provide educational opportunities for students and educators in Gilbert public schools.

Vineyard Community Center will host its second annual Queen Creek Arts Festival 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at 21805 S. Ellsworth Road, on the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo Roads in the Queen Creek Village Center.

Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from “The Artist” and “Water for Elephants,” puts in his time on the treadmill.

With one successful citrus season under its belt, Citrus for Kids, a local nonprofit that hires kids to pick unwanted fruit, is getting ready for another year and making plans for expanding its operations.