(BPT) - Spring is the time to shed your winter layers, dust off the cobwebs, open the windows and embrace the beginning of a new season. Aside from spending more time outdoors, the sunshine and warm weather often energize us to do the things we put off during the cold winter months, such as cleaning and organizing.

Alyssa Kayfes of Mountain View High School claimed first place in the Dove Mountain Rotary Club’s annual Four-Way Test speech contest.

(NAPSI)—Although tax season launched later than usual, taxpayers can still look forward to good news this year. For many Americans, tax preparation can be stressful and costly, but filers may be able to have their taxes prepared at no cost, plus qualify for refunds and credits worth thousands of dollars.

Kicking off the Independence Day festivities this Friday, June 29, The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain will be hosting a whole weekend of dining and entertainment for guests big and small. Friday evening features a CORE Wine Experience for adults, and a Cosmic Slide Party at the pool for all ages.

Two Fireworks Spectacular Shows and Myron Noodleman Highlight Homestand Events

Theresa Chavez, a teacher at Ironwood Ridge High School, feels like she is often thought of as “the woman with the sick husband,” while in fact, she is far more than that. She is a mother to two children, Ryan, 12, and Isabella, 19 months. She is a teacher who has been locally recognized for changing the lives of students with troubled home lives. And indeed, she is a wife to Tim Chavez, a man she never wants to have to live without.

In the weeks following the Jan. 8 shootings, members of Gabe Zimmerman’s extended family came together to form a coalition called BEYOND: Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit.

Students texting while driving, skidding out of control and seeing double all sounds like a recipe for disaster, but last week, students from Canyon Del Oro High School did just that, in hopes of avoiding disaster.

The racks and shelves are well stocked. The furniture shines brightly. Everything is falling smoothly into place for the grand opening of Oro Valley’s first retail Goodwill store Thursday at 8 a.m.

New skin care director joins Specialists in Dermatology

Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona is opening its first upscale retail store and donation center in Oro Valley next spring.

When the multinational cast of Up with People takes the stage at Mountain View High School in Marana this Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21 and 22, audience members can expect something for virtually every musical taste and interest.

In the early hours of Friday, April 30, the Northwest Friends Community Church was ablaze, contrasting with the night sky, the third and hardest-hit church in a spree of arson attacks.

District 26 Rep. Vic Williams was one of three Republicans in the Arizona House who voted against a leadership-pushed budget last week.

Business hasn’t been great at RideNow Powersports, off Ina Road near Old Father. The specialty motorcycle/ATV store struggles to navigate the recession.

The Long Realty Companies are accepting holiday collections for the Community Food Bank, Goodwill Industries and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

To raucous support, six Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce volunteers shook their booties for charitable causes Saturday night.

April 6, 2005 - The Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce named Lorraine Anderson Community Leader of The Year at the Pinnacle Awards Banquet April 5.

March 23, 2005 - The Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce will host its first Pinnacle Awards Banquet at 6:30 p.m., April 5 at Omni Tucson National, 2727 W. Club Drive. The Pinnacle Award will honor businesses and individuals who have contributed to the community in Northern Pima County by providing jobs, services, and volunteer efforts.

The Marana Rotary Club is seeking to raise money for the Marana Health Center at its annual charity golf tournament Sept. 14 at Heritage Highlands Golf and Country Club, 4949 W. Heritage Club Drive in Dove Mountain.

The five major executive branch offices in Arizona are governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. The following are overviews of the candidates in the Sept. 10 primary election races. Uncontested major and third party candidates will automatically advance to the general election Nov. 5. The Northwest EXPLORER will provide more information about their campaigns in our October general election coverage.

I was at my son's football game the other night and I was reminded of how the world's a very small place -- the six handshakes theory (also called six degrees of separation). For every person you meet, you're only six handshakes away from anyone in the world.