Before I saw the play (“Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type”) I read the book. I was wondering how the cows, hen and duck were going to look. When I read the book, I didn’t think it was that funny. But when I saw the play, it wasn’t funny — it was hilarious!

In American political culture, we prove we’re concerned about something by spending money on it. Americans are obviously concerned about protecting schools from more mass shootings after Newtown. But in this case, the best response may not be the most expensive.

As the Mesa Martin Luther King Jr. Committee prepares for the annual 2013 Celebration of Dr. King’s life, Legacy and dreams this weekend, my thoughts are not only on Dr. King but also on President Abraham Lincoln.

I find the opposition to Obamacare a gross, contradictory, and hypocritical position held by certain elected officials who represent the citizens of this great country.

We have operated My Sisters’ Place in the East Valley since 1985. In that time, we have received generous support from community, especially during the holidays. We are again asking the community to help make the holiday brighter for the women and children of our shelter.

We have operated My Sisters’ Place in the East Valley since 1985. In that time, we have received generous support from community, especially during the holidays. We are again asking the community to help make the holiday brighter for the women and children of our shelter.

Volunteers and staff will transform the hospital conference center into a magical winter Toyland. Parents of hospitalized patients will have an opportunity to select unwrapped toys from an array of free, donated items.

Ladies and gents, I give you… November. You know, that glorious month where there’s at least three or four solid movie choices every week? This weekend alone we have “The Sessions”, “Flight”, “Holy Motors” and “Wreck-It Ralph” — all of which are riding on some fairly positive notices and various degrees of awards buzz.

A report compiled by the Mesa Police Department shows officers made nearly 1,600 arrests in the past few years at junior and high schools in the Mesa School District.

A federal appeals court will hear arguments Friday of whether Arizona voters stepped over the line by denying bail to illegal immigrants charged with certain crimes.

The holiday season is an exciting time for all, especially for children. But for some children, this holiday season will be spent as a patient at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

I am a 13 year old Boy Scout from Troop 285 in Chandler. I would like everyone in the community to know about an awesome organization called Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). FMSC is a non-profit Christian organization that strives to feed hungry children around the world. FMSC originated in Minnesota and has expanded to Illinois and now Arizona. At its warehouse in Tempe, children and adults from the community can volunteer to pack meals specifically made for malnourished children. The meals contain four culturally acceptable ingredients: chicken, veggies, soy, and rice. The meals are shipped to about 70 countries around the world. I have personally volunteered there several times and have helped to raise money to pay for the food they pack. A single meal costs only 22 cents to produce, and 93 percent of all donations to FMSC go directly toward the food program.

Summertime is full of fun, freedom and hot dogs, and we don’t mean the kind you get at the ballpark. Although an exact number is difficult to find it is estimated that thousands of dogs die every year from heat related causes. A little information and common sense can save lives.

What would it take to explore an alien spacecraft at the bottom of a lake and rescue 20 abducted town folks before the National Guard steps in?

What would it take to explore an alien spacecraft at the bottom of a lake and rescue 20 abducted town folks before the National Guard steps in?

The commitment to build a $5.3 billion chip fabrication facility in Chandler’s Ocotillo region — expanding on an already significant presence in one of the East Valley’s benchmark cities — has certainly brought Intel its fair share of global and national recognition over the past year.

Be Kind to Animals Week is May 6 to 12, and it’s the perfect time to encourage the children in your life to treat all beings with compassion. Teaching kids to have empathy for animals not only helps prevent cruelty, it also helps kids grow into responsible, caring citizens.

With April 1st just around the corner, it appears that the meat industry is playing us as April Fools by hiding its violations of humane and sanitary laws.

February is designated as “Black History Month” and celebrates a population of individuals that share a unique and important heritage. History has not always been kind to African Americans and, as with other minority groups, has left out important contributions by its members.

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson began what was then called Negro History Week. In recognition of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, both of whom celebrated their birth dates during the second week of February.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a multifaceted, multidimensional and multitalented man. However, because so many fail to study the great works written about African American people, we often find ourselves the victim of 30-secons sound bites on the six o'clock news where excerpts of his omnipresent "I Have A Dream" speech are played over and over again.

As the Mesa MLK Celebration Committee prepares to unfold five wonderful events this weekend for the East Valley to reflect on the life, legacy and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., our hearts are filled and plates aren't as full.

Organizers of the Mesa Martin Luther King Jr. holiday festivities are hoping for an uptick in attendance this weekend after some changes last year led to disappointing numbers for one part of the otherwise popular celebration.

There is no question that the "Occupy" movement is growing. The fight against big business and governments worldwide gains more attention by the day and citizens are protesting in cities across the world under the slogan, "We are the 99 percent."