Page 46 January 2017 Coffee and Cocoa Open House Highlighting our Preschool through 2nd Grade Programs Parents will be treated to a campus tour, special presentation and Q&A session with key staff and teachers. Attending children will enjoy entertainment, snack & craft time! To reserve your spot, visit us at: www.staphxschool.org/RSVP or Call (602) 954-9088 Thursday, January 12th 8:45am Check-In / 9:00am Program Begins www.staphxschool.org 4510 N 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016 By Elaina Verhoff On December 3, Middle Eastern Bakery, located on 16th Street and Earll, had its front window smashed. This was the second time in less than a month that this had happened. When Carrie Bloomston first read a Facebook post about this act of hate, she didn’t believe it. “With all the fake news out there, I wasn’t sure if it was real,” she explained. After seeing a second post with a link to a GoFundMe page created to raise money to help replace the window, the truth sank in. Bloomston had been talking to her friends Karen Handelman and Sarah Root about the recent rise in hate crimes and their shared desire to do something positive to stand up to these acts of violence. So after hearing about the vandalism at the bakery, the three decided they were not going to tolerate hate and ignorance in their own backyard. They made plans to meet at Middle Eastern Bakery for lunch the next day to show their support. Bloomston posted a message that Sunday night telling her hundreds of Facebook friends that the three were meeting for lunch on Monday afternoon and that everyone was invited. The next morning, she saw her post had been shared by over 80 people – some friends, others strangers. As the reality sunk in, she knew she needed to alert the restaurant owners to expect a crowd. After failing to reach them by phone or email, she made a beeline for the bakery after dropping her daughter at school Monday morning. “I needed to warn them… I had invited the Internet to lunch,” said Bloomston. “And the Internet was going to come.” The Middle Eastern Bakery owner, Isam Saed, was completely receptive to their offer to help. “He was so overwhelmed and vulnerable… so tender that he was up for anything. This was not a normal day. He was crying and asking ‘Who are you? Are you an angel?’” Her response? “We love you, we stand with you, and this is not okay.” Saed told her “Whatever you need to do… you do it.” Handelman and Root soon joined her, and the three whipped up an action plan “in about five minutes.” They suggested offering a “Love Special” of salad, pita, hummus and falafel that could be prepared and served quickly. Carrie threw on an apron and started chopping vegetables in the kitchen. Sarah took her spot as expediter and server, and Karen stood out front with a handmade “Love Special” sign. By noon, the line of hungry supporters grew, winding through the restaurant and out the door. Rick Pyle, owner of M&M Glass Co. in Phoenix, drove up and told the owners that he would be replacing their window at no cost. “The entire day was like the final scene in It’s a Wonderful Life,” said Bloomston. “There was so much grace, beauty and tenderness shared that day. We were lucky to be a part of it. I have never been more grateful to do hard work in my life, and I can’t wait to take my family back.” Arcadia women rally support for immigrant-owned restaurant By Kelly Potts A whopping 73 percent of Americans make “working out” or “getting healthier” a part of their New Year’s resolutions. With the increase of flex diets, veggie filled plates, group classes and ‘bang for your buck’ type workouts, you can bet that the 73 percent will increase this year. But, as everyone knows, the key to a good New Year’s resolution, is to keep it. TAKE A CLASS If you are a part of the 73 percent vowing to keep your health in check this year, we have rounded up a unique way to get fit – take it to the park. Most parks in metro Phoenix either offer group courses, or have a fitness trail incorporated in the park. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation has a program called ‘FitPHX’, and their goal is to get Phoenix fit. Throughout this program, kids, adults and seniors can enjoy a variety of classes, from yoga and swimming, to basketball and aquatics. Classes vary per park, with annual, monthly, or per class memberships. For complete information on parks that participate, and classes offered visit www.phoenix.gov/parks/fitphx. FOLLOW THE FITNESS TRAIL Another option for those looking to get outside to break a sweat is the fitness trails located throughout certain parks. Most of these fitness trails consists of seven stations, passing approximately 1/3 mile around the entire park. The exercises are designed to help increase flexibility and improve muscle throughout the entire fitness course. Every station includes a descriptive sign that has a model of how the exercise is to be performed, including a measure of how many reps you should do based on your level of fitness. It also describes which muscles are the focal point in each exercise. These fitness trails are located throughout several parks in metro Phoenix. For information on fitness trails, and which park is closest to you visit www. phoenix.gov/parks. No matter how you get out this year to improve your fitness, just get out and enjoy the beautiful days! With mobile workouts, group fitness and fitness park trails, your fitness journey is getting slightly easier. A new kind of workout: park it Sarah Root (left) and Carrie Bloomston helped serve “Love Special” plates for those supporting The Middle Eastern Bakery.

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