Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Dave Theroux [dropcap]A[/dropcap]n image of a leafless tree often conveys an incredibly eerie mood. Frequently associated with Halloween, the sight of a dark trunk of wood with bare branches twisting into the sky closely resembles a large, ominous creature with fingers or tentacles reaching up in preparation to capture…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Musically Fed [dropcap]O[/dropcap]ver the past four years, Phoenix-based nonprofit organization Musically Fed has provided more than 20,000 meals to the homeless, hungry and food insecure — meals that had previously been enjoyed by U2, Kenny Chesney, The Zac Brown Band and Fleetwood Mac. Each of those music acts…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Bryan Black and John Fritz [dropcap]O[/dropcap]n May 17, a wildfire started off Desert Hills Drive in Cave Creek. Known as the East Desert Fire, the wildfire spread rapidly over the course of just a few hours, threatening several homes and eventually burning nearly 1,500 acres. Unfortunately, the incident was…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Gina Brown/Capturing the Moments LLC [dropcap]G[/dropcap]avilan Peak School’s cheerleaders are stars on and off the mat. In addition to scoring good grades, many of the team’s members are excelling in a variety of other avenues. Among the 13 seventh- and eighth-grade girls on the Anthem school’s team is…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he entire world essentially came to an unprecedented standstill last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic. People stayed home, businesses made drastic modifications to their operations and events of all types were postponed or — in many cases — completely canceled. No one was untouched by what has clearly become…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Scottsdale Chorus [dropcap]F[/dropcap]or the past six decades, Scottsdale Chorus has been changing the world’s perception of barbershop music. “Many people think of the guys with straw hats, armbands and striped vests,” says Lori Lyford, Scottsdale Chorus’ musical director. “The impression is that it is old fashioned. But we…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Saija Lehtonen [dropcap]S[/dropcap]pring takes on an exceptionally special meaning to photographer Saija Lehtonen. “I feel like spring is the beginning of the whole year,” Lehtonen says. “Spring — when the wildflowers begin to bloom — is when my photography really starts. From there, it slowly progresses to cactus flowers…
Writer Shannon Severson Opening Photo Courtesy of LB Photography All Other Photos Courtesy of David Cottle [dropcap]A[/dropcap] young student steps onto the stage. The crowd is hushed for just a moment, pausing to listen for the first chord she will strum on her guitar. She’s prepared for this, so she takes a deep breath and…
Writer Shannon Severson [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he talons of a gray hawk curl around a bare branch as it takes a hunting break. A playful litter of cougar cubs scratch and climb. A mother elephant and her baby take a stroll through the tall plains grasses. These moments depicting the beauty and personality of animals in the wild…
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Opening Photo by Alex Avalos on Unsplash All Other Photos Courtesy of Ginny Temple [dropcap]T[/dropcap]erry Temple believes that the most transformative forces within a community are the arts. “A director makes theater happen from the management side but the talent side, the building side and the support side all belong to…