Patti Woods-LaVoie loves Halloween and all things candy, but she has a hard and fast rule when it comes to teens and trick-or-treating.

Imagine a world without color, without hunger, and without pain. This is the futuristic world of “The Giver,” written by Lois Lowry. But now, this wonderful classic is brought to life on the Childsplay stage.

Ending their set with the 2001 No. 1 hit “The Middle,” rock band Jimmy Eat World – a group that got its own start nearby in Mesa – was charged with opening a political rally late Wednesday night in the open air of Arizona State University’s Tempe campus.

Lois Lowry’s name may not ring a bell right away, but certainly you (or your child) knows one of her many books.

I have always both as a parent and as a teacher, felt it was my job to expose my kids/my students to as many different things as possible. I guess so they would be able to make choices based on at least some experience rather than just being thrown into a choice. The exciting news is that in doing this, I have been exposed to things to which I might never have been exposed as well.

Performing Arts 2012-13 theater season preview

One of the great things about living in the East Valley is the wealth of kid-friendly theater options at our fingertips.

One of the first New York Police Department officers on the scene the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Healing Field candle light vigil on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

For some reason I’m finding myself reading the Psalms more and more this past year. They both energize and refresh my soul. A shepherd boy named David wrote 150 of them (or at least that’s how many he got published).

I have a parasite. Not sure whether I picked it up in Africa or perhaps just from eating a salad in the U.S. Either way, it is not fun and it is not leaving without a fight.

I have a parasite. Not sure whether I picked it up in Africa or perhaps just from eating a salad in the U.S. Either way, it is not fun and it is not leaving without a fight.

As a young bride-to-be, it never occurred to Jodi R.R. Smith to put a pitcher on her wedding registry.

The East Mesa Relay for Life is inviting all team members, cancer survivors, care givers and community members to help jumpstart the countdown to the 2012 event with a pep-rally Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Mesa's Fremont Junior High School.

If you splurged on that perfect gadget gift, you’ve probably imagined an ecstatic squeal accompanying its discovery. But if you extend that fantasy five minutes, is the scene as jubilant? Gadget givers everywhere forget to make their toys usable straight out of the box, leading to frustration before the fun can begin.

Give the perfect gift, donate blood

I'm one of the most forgetful people you'll meet.

I'm one of the most forgetful people you'll meet.

Unity of Chandler, Home of Divine Love, 325 N. Austin Drive, Suite 4, will be reunited with its founding minister, when the Rev. Kyra Baehr returns for a visit later this week.

Social Security is slashing its checks by changing the formula for calculating the average income on which payouts are based. Instead of using the top 10 earning years, they are now using the average of 35 years of earnings. My top 10 year average is over $50,000 per year and my top 35 year average is just over $20,000. My crime: switching to part-time work while my children were young and now switching from full-time to part-time work to care for an ill and disabled husband. This change is discriminatory to women since they are the primary care-givers in families!

Ever feel guilty about leaving your dog at home while you enjoy a fancy dinner?

Ever feel guilty about leaving your dog at home while you enjoy a fancy dinner?

Stress and anxiety - we all experience it and know how unhealthy it can be to our lives. While short bursts of stress are actually good for you, it's the continual, long-term stress that is damaging.