Gilbert Sun News; April 2015: Spirit

Nonprofit provides voice for children suffering from abuse

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

A Gilbert nonprofit organization helps area abused youth who have been silenced by fear by giving them a voice and resources to help them improve their lives.

“I am a Valley Realtor,” said Starbright Foundation Vice President Lori Regnier, who works for Glass House International Real Estate.

“Over 50 percent of the volunteers I have are from the real estate industry. I am not just selling a home to a person. I am selling a community and a lifestyle. I want to say, ‘your children will be safe here.’ I want to show we can protect our children and we won’t stand for people hurting our kids.”

The Starbright Foundation began five years ago because sex trafficking was at its highest point in Arizona. That said, Phoenix was named the second highest hub in the country for sex trafficking. Something needed to be done to help children through age 17, Regnier said.

“We are seeing a huge increase in pimps and predators,” Regnier said. “The crime is increasing in our own backyard. We really just felt that somebody has to be a voice for the children. Little ones can’t speak for themselves. We have to be their voice. We can all pitch in a little bit and make a change for these kids.”

missing, so they are found before the traffickers get to them.

Regnier said, for example, she used one of her resources in California to help bring a girl home from that state.

“Whenever we are out there being the eyes, hands and feet, we will post ourselves in the park and make sure the kids are safe,” she said.

With the use of technology increasing, Regnier said predators are reaching kids through their smartphones, video games and online chat rooms. She added the Internet can be a good thing, but it can provide access to children.

The foundation offers free counseling, a safe house and clothing for the children, food and education for the community. She says they hold large training events through the year to educate the Valley’s parents and children to keep them safe.

The foundation has helped 400 to 500 kids a year.

“We are reaching out to children who are hurting,” she said.

She added the foundation offers a hand in finding children who have gone

“Parents are not quite as savvy as the kids are,” she said. “Predators solicit our children on these devices. A 9- or 10-year-old doesn’t understand the dangers.”

Parents also put their kids in dangerous situations by dropping them off at malls—especially those located off freeways near hotels.

“You can’t say any ZIP code is safe because they are in our own backyards—in every ZIP code,” Regnier said.

For more information, visit www. starbrightfoundation.org.

Worship Guide

There is a place of worship for a variety of religions in Gilbert. Here is a partial list of some of the congregations in the town. Want to be added to this list? Email christina@gilbertsunnews. com.

Central Christian Church—Gilbert 965 E. Germann Rd., Gilbert 85297 www.centralaz.com/Arena/?page=5644

Services: 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sundays While the Bible itself is the church’s official document of faith, the website lists a variety of statements that fundamentally define the church. Please visit the website for more information.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints

3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert 85297 (480) 822-5000 www.lds.org/church/temples/gilbertarizona?lang=eng

For more information about the temple, visit the website above.

First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Rd., Gilbert 85233 (480) 892-9166 www.gilbertumc.org

Services: 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (traditional services) and 11 a.m. (contemporary service) Sundays

There are two traditional services—8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.—with the Chancel choir and traditional worship. The 11 a.m. service has a contemporary feel, with music from the praise band. The 9:30 a.m. service generally has the largest attendance.

Mission Community Church

4450 E. Elliot Rd., Gilbert 85234 (480) 545-4024 www.mission68.org

Services: 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. Sundays

The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and without error in the original manuscripts.

Real Life Church

Church services at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts 4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert 85295 (480) 444-0231 or www.reallife.cc

The church believes in one God consisting of the Father, the Son and

the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of

Redemption Gilbert 1820 W. Elliot Rd, Gilbert 85233 (480) 632-2220

www.gilbert.redemptionaz.com/ about/a-brief-overview/ Services: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Gospel means good news, but it is truly the most profound and glorious truth ever revealed. It is not advice, nor is it a system or philosophy to add to the congregants’ lives. It is an exclusive truth claim, a holistic worldview, the true story of the whole world, which by its very nature must redefine and recolor everything else.

St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church

2654 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert 85295 (480) 279-6737

www.smarymag.org

A Roman Catholic parish that witnesses the love of Jesus Christ through evangelization, Catechesis and celebration of the Sacraments.

San Tan Bible Church 1424 S. Promenade Lane, Gilbert 85296

Phone number not available. www.santanbible.org

Services: 8:30 a.m. (Bible hour); 9:30 a.m. (Café 2:42) and 10 a.m. worship service Sundays

The church believes the glory of God is the chief end of all we do.

Sun Valley Community Church 456 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert 85296 (480) 632-8920, www.sunvalleycc.com Services: 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. Sundays

The atmosphere is casual and friendly at Sun Valley Community Church. It places high value on authentic Christian living and placing Christ at the center of all our teachings. The church also offers worship music that is current and uplifting, along with focused weekend sermons that break down the Bible in a way that makes it easy to connect the word of God with today’s busy life.

Two Rivers Church

645 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 180, Gilbert 85234 (480) 892-2435, www.2riverschurch.org Services: 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays

Two Rivers Church exists to help lead congregants into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by encouraging and equipping them to love God intimately and serve others. It has a casual environment with a serious faith.

Music fans ‘In the Mood’ for big band tunes

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When Bud Forrest created the stage show “In the Mood” 21 years ago, he never imagined it would have longevity.

“I was in Washington, D.C., and I was a freelance musician,” Forrest said. “I was listening to a lot of different recordings, but I just focused in on the music of the Andrews Sisters.

“I didn’t wake up one morning and create ‘In the Mood.’ It was a five-year period. It started with three young ladies and myself on piano. The next thing I hired a nine-piece band then added more musicians and more costumes. It grew by itself without me doing anything. Who thought in 2015 I’d still be doing it?”

We are committed to making our practice as convenient and accessible as possible. We want you to feel confident in us, as well as in your new smile.

Free Consultations

“In the Mood” is making a return appearance to the Valley from Tuesday, April 7, through Sunday, April 12, at the Mesa Arts Center. Its 2014 shows here were near sell outs.

“The format is still pretty much the same,” he said. “We have new singers and dancers. Thirty percent of the music I pick out are songs that might fit the talent I have, the band, the orchestra and the singers.

“They still play ‘40s music, just a different selection. The main staples have to stay in the show—‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’—because they’re iconic to the period.”

There’s no story to ‘In the Mood.’ It’s the music.”

The music spans generations as well. He describes it as a family show “for kids ages 8 to 98.”

“The music goes on and on throughout different generations,” he said. “Anyone can have fun with it. Baby Boomers grew up in their household with their parents listening to it. We are losing the World War II generation fast now. I think the music will be the testament to them.”

It’s those folks and the audiences in general that make Forrest happy that he created and produces the show.

The songs performed during the revue are timeless, he said. Just take Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart and Willie Nelson for example. All of them have recorded albums of standards.

“I don’t know what makes a song like ‘Stardust’ that popular, other than the melody catches and the lyrics mean something,” he cited as an example. “That’s what ‘In the Mood’ is about.

“I get up every morning and say, ‘Thank you very much,’” he said. “It’s a pleasure to travel around and to see more interstates than most people. At the end of the day, it’s the audiences that thrill me.”

“In the Mood” comes to the Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa, from Tuesday, April 7, through Sunday, April 12, at various times. For ticket information, call (480) 644-6500 or visit www.mesaartscenter.com or www.inthemoodlive.com.