20 DECEMBER 2018 By Robin Sewell I had barely finished putting away the spiders, cobwebs and Halloween pumpkins when my daughter enthusiastically asked if we could start listening to Christmas music. No, I emphatically said, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. See, in our house, the tradition is to at least wait until we come out of our turkey coma to fully appreciate the hard work of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer! Making memories and creating traditions is something I always knew would be the cornerstone of my relationship with my daughter, and that’s because it was something I deeply coveted when I was a kid. My mom did everything she could to give me the best life possible. However, as a struggling, single mom juggling multiple jobs, paying the bills took priority over making traditions. We were fortunate to have friends who warmly welcomed us to participate in their holiday traditions, but I must admit, I secretly wished we were forging our own. I didn’t crave anything lavish. Just the simple things I would constantly overhear at these festive gatherings such as grandpa carving a turkey, grandma’s special stuffing, kids opening presents first, white elephant parties and leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what holiday you celebrate or whether you are into the holidays at all. What matters are the traditions you make with your family and friends that will forever be remembered, cherished and hopefully passed down through the generations. In my quest to create my own family traditions, I discovered that every family puts their own individual twist on memory making. Sometimes it corresponds with your religion or cultural heritage, like lighting a Menorah and eating latkes to celebrate Hanukkah, or the lighting of lamps, stringing of lights and sparklers that are symbolic of Diwali, India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. When it comes to Christmas, anything goes from Christmas cookies, caroling, the Elf on the Shelf, to getting ready for that all-important visit from the Big Man himself, Mr. Claus. I frankly love the Arizona-themed traditions, like having the whole family participate in a turkey trot, hiking Camelback Mountain on Thanksgiving, heading to Williams to ride the Polar Express, or driving to Prescott for the annual Christmas tree lighting and a drive through the valley of the lights. We have had our fa m ily holid ay traditions that started before my daughter said her first word. One of my favorites has always been our tree decorating. Each ornament has a story, from a place we’ve been, something homemade, a gift from someone special or an one that simply represents a significant time or memory in our lives. As time goes on, we add to our collection, as if our story is being told on our tree. Every year, our family gift to each other is to all go out to a musical, ballet, or some live performance simply to relax and enjoy spending time together. This year I’m thinking about “Elf” at the Phoenix Theatre. We always adopt a family from UMOM and the fun of shopping and picking out presents for those in need is honestly the best gift we feel we give to each other. And after all those years of feasting at other people’s homes and basking in their traditions, I get to finally host my friends and family at our home making memories year after year and our very own unique traditions that my daughter joyfully anticipates as December approaches and talks about long after the holidays are over. So when my daughter asks me for the thousandth time when we can start listening to Christmas music, I will smile and repeat, “It’s our tradition to wait until after Turkey Day.” — Robin Sewell is the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Arizona Highways Television. Traditions worth making Holiday traditions can be big, like a family dinner, or small, like Elf on the Shelf. The truth is, it doesn’t matter what holiday you celebrate or whether you are into the holidays at all. What matters are the traditions you make with your family.” Grades: Pre K to 8 th Grade Location: Monte Vista Church (3313 N. 40 th St.) Rec Leagues and Club Program Start in January www.arcadiayouthbasketballaz.com “Ball in the Neighborhood” Paradise Valley United Methodist Church 4455 East Lincoln Drive • Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 602.840.8360 • pvumc.org

21 DECEMBER 2018 By Michelle Donati-Grayman Automakers continue to race toward a self-driving future, adding a multitude of high-tech safety systems aimed at preventing crashes. These advanced driver assistance systems (also known as ADAS) are considered the building blocks toward fully automated vehicles and are available on many cars today, helping drivers stay in their lanes, detect vehicles in blind spots and even avoid crashes by applying the brakes. But, what happens when one of these high-tech vehicles is involved in a minor collision? Or, even more likely, gets a chip in the windshield during the daily commute? Does the increased technology equal an increase in repair costs? AAA evaluated three popular vehicle models equipped with the latest technology to understand the costs of repairing these systems. To “see” the world around them, these vehicles rely on sophisticated cameras and sensors in bumpers, side-view mirrors and behind windshields. If damaged, not only do these components have to be replaced, they must also be recalibrated. This type of specialized fix can add up to an additional $3,000 in repair costs. Windshields, one of the most common types of repairs with 14.5 million replacements annually, can cost three times more to replace on a vehicle equipped with these systems. If faced with repairs, it is important to select a facility that is equipped to handle these types of systems. Replacing sensors and cameras is relatively straight-forward and can be performed by most mechanics. However, the calibration needed to return ADAS to full operation is a specialized task requiring special information, training, tools and facilities. It is important to verify the facility selected is able to properly repair and recalibrate the damaged system, and AAA recommends requesting proof of the work once complete. As technology continues to evolve, drivers need to be better educated and more aware of their vehicle’s capabilities. This includes understanding how the vehicle systems work as well as how much repairs may cost if damaged. AAA recommends drivers review their insurance policy regularly to ensure they have the appropriate coverage to cover the cost of repairs for any damage and that deductibles are manageable to minimize out-of-pocket expenses. Car tech can be expensive to repair