Along with the sunscreen, book, toys and snacks we haul to our waterside of choice this summer, we need a beach towel or two.

Summer burst wide open all over the Reese house in the last few days.

Summer burst wide open all over the Reese house in the last few days.

Gilbert’s Higley Unified School District will file papers with the state Department of Education to turn its two under-construction middle schools into charter schools this fall after a 4-1 vote by the governing board Thursday night.

The Gilbert Unified School District governing board is taking action to withdrawal from the Arizona School Board Association.

Summer burst wide open all over the Reese house in the last few days.

The Gilbert Unified School District governing board again voted Tuesday against discussing a future budget override ballot issue.

Piece by piece, the world is becoming a little smaller in Mesa — about 100,000 times smaller. But, in this case, small is actually quite big — as in 40 stories tall, and with astonishing detail.

Recycling in buildings is nothing new to most businesses.

The Gilbert Unified School District will seek out an interim superintendent to be in place as quickly as possible after current Superintendent Dave Allison retires July 1.

News last month that State Farm will be the anchor tenant in a 2 million square foot multi-use development being constructed in Tempe is only part of the story, State Farm spokesman Robert Villegas said.

The Class of 2013 at Perry High School boasts an impressive list of accomplishments.

The first residential phase of the long-awaited 3,200 acre Eastmark community in East Mesa will make its public debut Saturday.

Arizona-based Maracay Homes recently spent $4 million to design new floor plans based on consumer requests in a post recession economy. Those new floor plans — the New Arizona Living Collection — include secondary living rooms that can be used as playrooms, laundry rooms by master bedrooms and expanded outdoor spaces, said Maracay President and CEO Andy Warren.

A punch to the gut. A smack to the head.

Graduation is just days away. Then, they’ll be moving on to the next phases of their life.

Wayne Brown spent decades working to improve Mesa, from its arts programs to its financial standing. Under his leadership on the city council and as mayor, the city saw a new spring training facilities built, a new convention center created and the establishment of the Mesa Arts Center.

Gilbert district schools will continue to offer free, full-day kindergarten next school year following a vote Wednesday night by the governing board.

One week after a 2-2 vote by the Gilbert Unified School District governing board put into question future discussion about a budget override ballot issue, an agenda was posted showing the board will vote on the matter Wednesday night.

The presence of a cheering Gorilla at Mesa’s Westwood High School could mean one thing: Something big was about to happen.

School districts in the East Valley are working the numbers to figure how much they will have to pay utilities, pay teachers next year or spend on textbooks.

A lone, painted white bicycle sits at the side of Usery Park Road near Bush Highway.