The 300-plus-member Phoenix Children’s Chorus will be heard nationally with the broadcast of their appearance on National Public Radio’s “From the Top.” One of the most popular weekly music series on public radio, the show reaches more than 700,000 listeners on 250 stations across the country.

“Reveille” mini camps offer a wake-up call for addicts, their families and helpers; while a two-hour workshop for couples provides the means for “Reunification.”

Wyndsong Designs, an exhibitor at the April 6 and April 20 MACFests in downtown Mesa, is owned and operated by Karin “Kai” Sullivan. She has been a Master Beader, with a focus on spiritual semi-precious wearable art, for more than 30 years. Recently, Kai discovered polymer clay.

It’s Easter Sunday, so please indulge me with a bit of a sermon, one you can take in a human context as well as a spiritual one.

Arizona high schoolers may soon be rid of having to pass AIMS -- or any standardized test -- to graduate.

Up there with “Stoker” and “Like Someone in Love” as one of the best films to hit theaters this spring, “War Witch” is devastating, beautiful and truly not to be missed. An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, this gut-wrenching tale of a child soldier has been reeling in the accolades: Best Actress awards for young star Rachel Mwanza at both the Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, along with a whopping 10 honors (including Best Picture) at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

Christ the King Catholic Church of Mesa will host its 6th Annual charity golf tournament and luncheon this Saturday that will benefit the only shrine in Arizona dedicated to those who are affected by cancer.

The Oscars were announced a mere week ago and pundits are already making bets on whom to expect in the 2014 lineup. While it may seem premature, I can’t say I blame them – we have yet another killer batch of films in-store, one that will surely give 2013’s nominees a run for their money. “Fruitvale,” “August: Osage County,” “Wolf of Wall Street” and a couple dozen more are in the pipeline, all of which you’ll want to keep on your radar for fall if they weren’t there already.

Sarah Hinze, a Mesa mother of nine grown children, has made it her life’s work to advocate for the rights of children. Not necessarily those children in communities across the country, but instead, she is a spokesperson with an interest in children who are yet to be born.

Where everyone else spent most of last January debating which team would be victorious at Super Bowl XLVII, I was busy trying to predict which movies would win big at the 85th annual Academy Awards. In many respects, the Oscars feel like a sporting event as nominees tirelessly campaign to win and award analyzers place bets on which horse will cross the finish line.

In the same vein of “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and “Catcher in the Rye,” Rudolfo Anaya’s “Bless Me, Ultima” has evolved into one of the most widely beloved and challenged books of all time. In some high schools this best-selling Chicano novel is considered a mandatory reading. Other schools have banished the book for its use of profanity, references to witchcraft, and religious themes. For anyone with an open mind, “Bless Me, Ultima” is certainly an enriching read-through about acceptance, family, faith, culture, and independence. The charm of Anaya’s novel sadly doesn’t shine through this adaptation by Carl Franklin, which gets bogged down by wooden performance and insipid direction.

It’s very rare that I’m motivated to write a follow up column, but the dangers generated by alcohol’s sacred position in our society demands more attention. Nothing is better to use as comparison than the uproar about the private ownership of guns and the dangers of both.

It has been performed by the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond, and appeared everywhere from the 2012 Olympic Games to “South Park.” No longer just a musical staple of Jewish weddings and bar mitzvahs, “Hava Nagila” has become a global phenomenon that has captivated the masses with its simple message of happiness and gratitude.

VATICAN CITY — Benedict XVI always cast himself as the reluctant pope, a shy bookworm who preferred solitary walks in the Alps to the public glare and the majesty of Vatican pageantry. And on Monday, the Vatican announced that the leader of the world's billion Roman Catholics was stepping down — the first pontiff to do so since 1415.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI said Monday he lacks the strength to fulfill his duties and on Feb. 28 will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. The announcement sets the stage for a conclave in March to elect a new leader for world's 1 billion Catholics.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday he would resign Feb. 28 because he is simply too old to carry on. Here is the text of his announcement, delivered to cardinals gathered for a ceremony to name three new saints.

Alarms sound and firefighters jump into fire trucks in a flash. Soldiers struggle to survive war. A mother grows exhausted caring for her children.

Browse the booths of this juried art festival, featuring, among others, the work of Gold Canyon and Apache Junction artists. Musicians and entertainers, including the Mariachi Pasion Band, the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, and the Salt River 5, perform throughout the day.

Thirty years ago, Valley Christian High School opened its doors to students for the first time.

PROVO, Utah — Mikaela Merrill was in the middle of her fall semester at Brigham Young University when she abruptly altered her college plans and signed up for a Mormon mission.

She’s young, tall-model-slender, beautiful and with a song bird voice. I’ll call her Annie. And, today she sits in jail, serving a lengthy term for her history with drugs. Like so many others, her road to trouble started with alcohol.

My reaction to Bill Richardson’s guest commentary of Dec. 28, “Young warriors a truly special breed,” is dismay. Although I respect his service as master police officer, and appreciate most of his contributions to the Tribune, I must comment that some of the opinions in this article are historically naive, on one hand, and disingenuous on the other.

Mesa’s Pilgrim Lutheran School is offering free tuition this semester to students in grades two through seven. The school, now in its 41st year, wants to give families that haven’t previously been able to afford it a chance to try out a private, Christian education.

Chandler Christian Community Center will host a family day of play in the snow Jan. 26.