Page 50 March 2013 Neighbor Continued from page 44 and told passengers he was a white witch (brujo blanco), and if anyone were to look at the photos on their camera, something bad would happen to them. “I sat down and the assistant driver of the bus went and spoke to the women sitting behind my seat,” Nicholas said. “The driver (asked) ‘Did you look here between the seats?’ There was Mercedes’ camera. I think I scared the heck out of them.” In his 30-plus years of travel to Ecuador, Nicholas has met many interesting people, including his wife of 32 years. He has also met the Ecuadorian President’s grandson, Eloy Alfaro, along with a number of musicians, artists and writers. Unfortunately, Nicholas and Mercedes’ most recent trip to Ecuador last September was to visit Mercedes’ ill mother before she passed away. They will be traveling to Spain this year to become godparents before visiting Ecuador again. When asked how he fi rst became interested in travel, Nicholas explained that his parents bought him a shortwave radio when he was 12 and living in Scottsdale. “I turned it on and the fi rst station I heard was from Quito, Ecuador, and I dreamed of going there someday.” Nicholas highly recommends visiting Ecuador. “Nowhere on Earth can you get to three distinct geographic regions in the world so fast. It is a very complex culture, but for any traveler with an open mind for adventure, you will love it.” Nicholas has written three editions of the book Culture Shock! Ecuador and offers a free travel safety and security information service at touristkilled.com. Learn more in our “Travel Tips” column on page 45. Traveled lately or know someone who has? Contact Kaley.Kalil@gmail.com. where you’re going and what’s going on there. This site is an independent, nonpartisan global travel security source headed right here in Arcadia by longtime resident (and this month’s neighbor on page 44) Nicholas Crowder. Information is monitored worldwide and involves news reporting of deaths, injuries, robberies, weather, travel delays and health outbreaks, along with terrorism and politics that could change the safety of an area very quickly. Crowder’s goal is to take community safety to a global level. For more information, visit the website (www.touristkilled.com) or email Crowder at crowdpub@mindspring.com. Tips Continued from page 45 Vanyo Insurance Group Vanyo Insurance Group www.VANYOINSURANCE.com P: 480.998.4014 • F: 480.998.3690 8040 E Morgan Trail • Suite 5A Scottsdale • 85258 Representing All Lines of Personal Representing All Lines of Personal & Commercial Insurance & Commercial Insurance With A-Rated Companies With A-Rated Companies Susan & John Vanyo Independent Insurance Agent A company you like and trust. STATEAUTO.COM Insure your property for what it would cost to replace. Call your State Auto agent today. Friends you can depend on, since 1921 STATE AUTO ® Insurance Companies ® Representing SAVE MONEY on your insurance AND get a FREE APPETIZER at Kitchen 56... call for details! W.R. Williams FINE JEWELRY 4730 E Indian School Rd / Safeway Center / 602-263-8404 www.wrwilliams.com / www.facebook.com/wrwilliamsjewelry From simple to stone set… From simple to stone set… the message remains the same. the message remains the same. Tino Ferrulli 602-745-5710 teamtino@phoenixmb.com Visit us at www.TeamTino.net Phoenix Motor Company 225 West Indian School Road • Phoenix, AZ 85013 Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned ZZTo qualify for certification, a Mercedes-Benz must be under six years old, with less than 75,000 miles and a clean CARFAX® Report. Plus, it must pass a rigorous 122-point quality inspection. Take advantage of exceptional 1.99% financing rates (WAC) on select Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles. A stringent certification process, 24-hour Roadside Assistance and a comprehensive 12-month/100,000-mile limited warranty. Stop in today and we can talk about all the different models we have available right now.

Page 51 March 2013 ‘Stardust’ impresses as March book club selection By Amanda Goossen Spring is upon us and it is honestly one of my favorite times of year in publishing. For some reason, all my favorite authors release new books in March, April, May and June and I can’t wait to get my hands on sequels, new stories and the greatness that comes from some of the most talented people I know (or wish I knew). So many fascinating stories are about to hit stores, stands and the wonderful world of online shopping, that I’ve already planned out the next four months of book club selections. If you haven’t yet attended one of our Arcadia News Book Club events, I hope you will. There’s nothing like speaking to an author, either in person or online. Each month at least one person looks at me and says, “After talking to the author, I have an entirely new perspective on the book we just read.” Our next book club event is 6 p.m. March 28. We meet, as we do each month, at Terra Java Coffeehouse, 3619 E. Indian School Road. We will enjoy an evening of book discussions as well as appetizers, coffee, tea and lemonade. If you’d like to attend, the book selection for the month is The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley. Sibley will be SKYPEing with us for the evening. If you’d like to attend the book club, please email me at Amanda@arcadianews. com. We look forward to seeing you. The Promise of Stardust By Priscille Sibley One of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, The Promise of Stardust will make you think, smile and will absolutely break your heart. On a whim, I picked up this novel and began reading on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Four hours later, I had fi nished the entire book, incapable of leaving the characters, the story, or the love within the pages, for even a second. Matt Beaulieu has loved his wife for as long as he could remember. 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