10 5 2013stsn p49 58 neighbors

Neighbors

Breast cancer hits home for Chandler woman

BY VALERI SPIWAK

Faustine Gabriel learned about breast cancer at the age of 14, when a volunteer representative from the Phoenix Susan G. Komen Foundation visited her junior high class.

Realizing the seriousness of breast cancer, Gabriel, a Chandler resident, immediately took the material home and discussed it with her mother, who knew almost nothing about the disease. Within a week Gabriel’s mother found a lump during a self-breast exam and, after meeting with a doctor, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I’m Chinese,” Gabriel says. “In my culture, we actually don’t talk about cancer. It’s seen as a taboo topic so growing up I never knew what cancer was.”

Gabriel’s mother is a breast cancer survivor. Cancer is still an unmentionable topic in her culture, but Gabriel has dedicated her life to spreading breast cancer awareness in her community as a Komen Foundation outreach ambassador.

“If people don’t know about breast cancer, we don’t know how to find the cure for it, we don’t know how to test ourselves to see if something is wrong with us or not,” Gabriel says.

“I educate my community. I’m not afraid to be a voice in my community to tell people about the tests and what breast cancer is and everything. I’ve been a volunteer since 2009 as a community ambassador.”

Heather Roberts, interim executive

Pesto’s

proves that an upscale restaurant is exactly what Chandler needs

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

There’s much more to Pesto’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar than first meets the eye. The family-owned and -operated wine bar and restaurant started out as a pizza place at its Chandler location 19 years ago. It has since blossomed into an upscale wine bar with a very impressive menu and a vast list of quality wines.

One thing that is so striking about Pesto’s is the ambiance and décor. A group of exotic saltwater fish greets customers after they enter the door and set the stage for the cool and comfortable atmosphere.

“Don Carstens is the designer who did Pesto’s,” explains owner Frank Taurisano.

“He also designed Ocean Club, Maestro’s

and City Hall.”

Indeed, the upscale and refined décor is just a taste of what Pesto’s has in store for their valued customers.

Pesto’s is equal parts wine bar and restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu has been carefully orchestrated by Executive Chef Chad Bolar, who previously helmed Christopher’s at The Biltmore.

“Every week we come out with a new menu. It’s to die for. He’s really talented and we’re lucky to have him,” notes Taurisano of Bolar. Some of the most popular entrees on the menu include ziti and grilled chicken, the linguini with white clam sauce and the Italian burger that includes ricotta,

SEE PESTO’S PAGE 54

BY ANA ANGUIANO

When Chandler resident Ann Kronwald isn’t running a business with her husband or chasing after her grandchildren, she writes.

Kronwald was recently published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade” with her beautiful story about finding adventure and happiness in her upbringing in a single-parent home.

“Whenever someone asks me to characterize my life—especially my younger years—I always say ‘adventure,’” Kronwald says.

“It was way too boring to do something twice and I know I got that from mom. She was a true adventurer and we did a lot of that growing up.”

Her piece titled “Adventures in Staying” is a bit of a detour from her everyday writing. Kronwald enjoys studying the different Hebrew names of God and

director with the Susan G. Komen Central and Northern Arizona, says Gabriel has been a great contributor as a community volunteer as well as an incredible Komen supporter.

“We were really moved when we heard her story about learning about breast cancer from a COA that came to talk to her so she could basically walk her mom and educate her mom on the process. It’s learning about what’s the best way to get to people to pass that education along,” Roberts says.

Komen Central and Northern Arizona began with the Phoenix Race for the Cure 21 years ago and has since been an affiliate here in the desert.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Komen will host the Race for the Cure on Oct. 13 as well as health fairs and educational events.

“The month of October is huge for us because we have a group of trained (volunteers)—whom we call community outreach ambassadors—so they are basically all over town going to different health fairs, speaking engagements, companies that want people to come talk about breast health and breast cancer,” Roberts says.

“So they are out arming people with knowledge not just about Komen and more specifically about breast cancer awareness; what people can do to be aware of their own bodies; what they need to know about breast health and breast cancer.”

Komen hopes to mainly promote the importance of knowing one’s body—learning the benefits of conducting regular self-exams, maintaining awareness of any bodily changes and actively seeking out information on any family history of breast cancer, Roberts says.

This year’s breast cancer awareness theme will center on the tagline “I can” with Olympic gold medal swimmer Amanda Beard serving as honorary race chairwoman, Roberts says.

With Beard, the organization is hoping to show that everyone can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

Neighbors

“Whether it’s, ‘I can help raise funds’ or ‘I can register for the race’ or ‘I can be that support system for my mom, grandma, my aunt whoever might be going through breast cancer,’” Roberts says. “What is that individual step a person can do in the fight against breast cancer.”

In addition to spreading the word on breast cancer awareness and health, Gabriel has also participated in the Komen race every year since her mother’s diagnosis almost 20 years ago.

“What I do in October is I really, really stress about fundraising. I always have a goal of at least $1,000 for the Komen race. I do walk it every year, ever since my mom was diagnosed and that’s always been my fundraising goal to help the foundation, and raise at least $1,000 every year for it,” Gabriel says.

It is of the utmost importance to continue discussing the topics of breast cancer and bodily awareness, as well as conducting monthly self-breast exams, Gabriel says. If it were not for the many dedicated volunteers spreading the word on breast health, the topic would dissipate and possibly endanger the lives of many.

“I just remember feeling really grateful that the volunteer had taken time out of her day to come educate me about something that I don’t know and for me to bring that information to my mom to help her save her life,” Gabriel says.

Valeri Spiwak is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.

Organizations join forces to provide makeover magic

It started when Darlene Arias, the owner of Luxe Salon & Spa, challenged her professional staff to start doing more makeovers and it turned into an important outreach to some deserving and hardworking local moms.

Luxe Salon & Spa worked with the East Valley Mom’s Blog (EVMB) to find moms who needed and deserved some time at the salon to focus solely on themselves.

BLONDE: Veteran professional stylist Janelle Williams adds blonde highlights for the first time in four years to the hair of triple entrepreneur, blogger and mom of twin boys, Andrea Boring. Submitted photo

Niomee Baker of Niomee B Photography, another EVMB contributor, and Heather Cisek of The Purple Skirt boutique offered to help with photography and clothing makeovers respectively to showcase each of the four moms’ final looks.

Christina Nguyen, one of the four founders of EVMB, was in a unique position to help Luxe Salon & Spa track down great candidates for the makeovers.

“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” — Coco Chanel

As PTO president of nearby Ryan Elementary in Chandler, she easily identified four women who she knew were deserving of time with the Luxe professionals. Here are their mini profiles:

• In honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, Luxe Salon & Spa was honored to spend time with two strong, brave moms. Laurie Morton’s son, Jack, was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma in March 2010. Jack went through a very intense protocol for 14 months. He had his final treatment scans in May 2013 and is now cancer free. Now, the Jack Morton Foundation

raises money for research to find a cure for neuroblastoma. Mom, Laurie, who is a runner and raises money for the foundation doing just that, needed a simple overhaul. The salon warmed up her hair color and makeup, keeping it simple, but elegant.

• Mom Stephanie Wheeler and her husband Brian Perdue lost son, Cade, just 17 days after discovering that he had high-risk medulloblastoma with leptomeningeal metastases (meaning the cancer had spread to the covering of his brain and into his spine). Complications with brain swelling caused him to pass away at 2 ½ years old very suddenly and tragically. His family misses him every

day and Wheeler needed a fresh start to her beauty routine. The salon was thrilled to help in even this smallest way and let the local community know about The Cade Perdue Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for advancing research and treatment for childhood medulloblastoma. Wheeler was ready for a major change and chose to go red after seeing a model on Luxe’s website.

• Luxe Salon & Spa also got to meet two great contributors to EVMB. New mom Kristin Przybylski had just given birth five weeks earlier. This new mom and entrepreneur came to us as a victim of ombre gone awry on short hair and

in need of an easier beauty routine (Don’t remember what it was like to be on a newborn’s schedule?). Luxe helped Przybylski find the right shade of auburn brown that will be easy to maintain and left it long enough to pull back on those stay-at-home with baby days. Some easy, natural makeup brought out her eyes.

• EVMB Contributor Andrea Boring is a hard-working triple entrepreneur and a mom of twin kindergarten boys. When she is not running her businesses, she wrangles her two cuties and writes about her experiences on EVMB. Caught in the rut of everyday life, Boring hadn’t cut her hair in nearly four years, but yearned

pancetta, cipollini jam, arugula and is served with tots.

“Being Italian, of course we have great cannoli and our tiramisu is excellent. We also have a lemon meringue pie that is very popular,” says Taurisano. There is a selection of elegant gluten-free entrees for those with a special diet.

Pesto’s has been in its Chandler location for 19 years, but prior to Chandler, the Taurisano family owned the Sammy B’s Pizza in Tempe. Once they sold that location and opened Pesto’s in Chandler, they began to upgrade and diversify their menu.

“We’ve evolved past the pizza take-out and it’s a more adult crowd. Now we sell as much wine as we do pizza,” Taurisano explains. “This is a very nice wine bar and most of our clientele are professionals.”

Premium wine is a huge draw at Pesto’s and it’s important to know that great care is taken in having a wide variety of quality wines and spirits available, not just whatever happens to be a good buy at the time. Its bar is also ready to handle just about any drink request.

“We have 200 wines on our list and 60 by the glass,” Taurisano notes. “We have one of the most well-stocked bars in Arizona with 100 vodkas, 50 tequilas and 40 rums. We take great pride in our bar and my wife, Debbie, and my daughter, Roxanne, manage the bar.”

As Taurisano states, everything about Pesto’s is a family affair. Debbie and Roxanne take on bar duties and various management tasks and sons, Reid and Noah, also work in the restaurant.

“They are all pretty good cooks,” notes Taurisano of his talented multitasking family. In a pinch they can hop in and help out in the kitchen. The restaurant business has been a family tradition for the Taurisanos and Frank is a third-generation restaurant owner. How is this for a side note? Frank met his wife Debbie when he hired her to work in his restaurant 33 years ago.

One popular event at Pesto’s is the wine pairing dinner which takes place several times a year. The next one is Oct. 21.

“This time, we’ll be featuring the wines of Argentina and we’ll be serving octopus and steak,” says Debbie. Each time one of these special dinners is held, there is a different theme and the event is always in high demand. The entrees are inventive and

relevant to the wines being served each time.

Wine tastings also take place throughout the year and offer the experience to discover new and emerging wines. The winemakers attend, too, to discuss the wines and answer questions. Between five and seven wines at various price points are served and complimentary appetizers are provided. To stay up to date on the latest events at Pesto’s, join its Facebook page at facebook.com/PestosWineBar.

With a carefully honed staff and a loyal group of customers, Taurisano hopes to see more new faces at Pesto’s to show them the value of a locally grown restaurant.

“Kids today don’t know the different between corporate and family-owned

restaurants. But, it’s important to support them because we’re carrying on a family tradition,” he states.

Pesto’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar is located at 1960 W. Ray Rd., Suite 4, (at Dobson Road). Call 480-821-2949 for more information or to make reservations for the Oct. 21 wine-pairing dinner. For more information, visit PestosPizza.com.

Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at lynette@santansun.com.

to go back to beloved long bob style with a little blonde. She knew she needed a major overhaul to look more professional, but still craved something that was low maintenance. Luxe took Boring really blonde, which makes her beautiful blue eyes pop and gave her the style she craved.

It was such a success, that Luxe has decided to search for more candidates who are deserving of a makeover because of challenges they have recently faced.

Do you know a mom who has been devoted to her family, overcome major obstacles, reached a near-impossible goal or just needs a fresh start? The salon wants to hear her story. To enter the contest, visit luxesalonspaaz. com, eastvalleymomsblog.com, shopthepurpleskirt.com or niomeebphotography.com.

Monday night football at BLD

BLD recently equipped its private dining room with 70-inch flat screen televisions, making it a great place to gather and watch Monday night football. There is a 10-person minimum for Monday night private dining room reservations, which are made on a first-come, first-serve basis. The BLD team will make the party extra special with a customized menu of festive snacks and drinks, as well as the opportunity to choose favorites from the new dinner menu.

To reserve a private dining room, call 480-779-8646. BLD is located at 1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler.

writing about the lessons in each name. She also takes plenty of inspiration from her amusing grandchildren, but her “Chicken Soup for the Soul” entry is all about her.

Kronwald and her three sisters spent part of her childhood on a black angus cattle ranch in southern Arizona but she spent her days following after her father and looking up to him for all of his wild and crazy antics. Kronwald was a bit of a daddy’s girl and idealized every part of his colorful personality.

But after her parents divorced and her father moved away, her relationship with her mother changed. She realized she wasn’t just the rule enforcer; she was just as adventurous.

“She did what she wanted to do and carried us along. We were swept up in her sense of adventure and definitely my kids benefitted from that,” Kronwald says.

After her father relocated, her mother moved the four children around the state, making ends meet as best she could. While they were lacking in money, they never lacked in entertainment. Kronwald says they found excitement in nature and around the house every day. They would turn over rocks just to see what lay underneath.

“I think the main thing is our past does not have to define us,” she says. “I know a lot of people carry around bitterness and hang ups from the past... I realized then you can’t be looking back.”

“Adventures in Staying” is heartwarming and truly amazing story of how one mother kept a family together without much more than determination and a sense of adventure.

Kronwald went on to graduate from Arizona State University with her bachelor’s and earned her master’s degree from the University of Hawaii. It was in college that she realized the way you view your past shapes the way you live your life.

“It’s important to see how God has blessed you and focus on that and not be bitter about what you lost,” she says.

For Kronwald, the best part of being published in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” is the chance to share her mother.

“It was honoring my mom and she’s always been so supportive of me and it was nice to have a piece out that (says) this is your mom,” she says.

Ana Anguiano is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.

Vintage sports cars rev their engines at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park

Bob Bondurant kicks off first car race at renovated track

Formerly known as Firebird International Raceway, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on the Gila River Indian Community in Chandler is hosting a 80th birthday party for Bob Bondurant.

During the The Marlen Motorsports Festival of Speed from Oct. 11 to 13, fans can peruse a classic car show on Sunday. Spectators and car enthusiasts can enjoy watching vintage cars as they whip around the newly renovated 2.4-mile circuit. Admission includes pit tickets for people to get up close and personal with their favorite teams.

“Bob’s history in the racing community runs deep and we couldn’t be happier to help host this event,” says Paul Clayton, managing partner of Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

The guest of honor, Bob Bondurant, will also get behind the wheel for a special parade lap during the threeday event. While there, people can enjoy plenty of food, merchandise and music to help keep them entertained all weekend long. To register as a race car driver, car show entree or a spectator you can purchase tickets at

racewildhorse.com.

The new Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is not only a race track, but an entertainment center for holding concerts, festivals, and both car and boat races. Renovations include a resurfaced drag strip, updated suites and control tower, state-of-the-art timing and scoring system, and grandstand seating by the starting line. Future plans include a family friendly motorsports park with white-sand beach. Families will be able to sail boats, wakeboard, picnic on grass, and enjoy walking trails around the lake—all to be completed by the spring.

The remaining 2013 season at Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park includes Race on the Old Track/Car Show and the Lucas Oil Drag Boat World Finals. In 2014 they continue with the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and even more events. For more information, visit its website at racewildhorse.com or follow it on Facebook at facebook.com/ WildHorseMotorsportsPark.

See related photo story, page 58.

Villari’s Family Center opens new location in Chandler

Facility features martial arts training, kids’ indoor play and Wi-Fi cafe

East Valley children and families will have a new option for fun and fitness when Villari’s Family Center celebrates its grand opening at its Chandler facility, 222 E. Warner Rd., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat. Oct. 12.

adjacent Wi-Fi café.

The playground includes a separate area for babies and toddlers, as well.

The event gives families the opportunity to experience the center’s award-winning facilities, martial arts curriculum and discovery programs.

“We’re throwing our doors open to give local families a chance to enjoy our huge indoor playground, martial arts training facility, party and event rooms, and Wi-Fi café,” said Lisa Napoli, operations manager, Villari’s Family Centers.

“Our vision is to create opportunities and programs that help families live safer, healthier, happier lives.”

The open house will feature a variety of complimentary events and activities, including visits from action heroes and Disney princesses, face painting, and free play in the center’s 8,000-square-foot indoor playground. Under the supervision of Villari’s play coordinators, kids can discover numerous play stations and a giant play structure with swings, slides, bridges and climbing walls while their parents work, read or enjoy a quiet, nutritious meal in the

The daylong celebration also will include a martial arts exhibition from the demonstration team at Villari’s in Gilbert. In fact, martial arts education is at the heart of Villari’s Family Center locations nationwide.

Based on the teachings and techniques of Frederick J. Villari, a 12th-degree great grandmaster and founder of Shaolin Kempo Karate, the martial arts curriculum helps children develop their fitness, focus and self-confidence.

Villari’s open-house celebration will include the following activities:

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Complimentary supervised play in the giant indoor playground

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Visits from superheroes and Disney princesses

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Free face painting 1:15 to 2 p.m.: Martial arts exhibit featuring demonstration team from Villari’s in Gilbert

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 480699-2122 or visit VillarisCenters.com/AZ.

Lucas Oil drag boat races

The newly transformed Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, located on the Gila River Indian Community, is an historic racing facility quickly becoming the premiere motorsports and entertainment complex in the world. Formerly known as Firebird International Raceway, the new Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is not only a race track, but an entertainment center for concerts, festivals, and car and boat races. The 2013 Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series kicked off the grand opening festivities with a three-day race weekend in mid-September. High-powered boats sliced through the waves at more than 250 mph. The remaining 2013 season at Wild Horse Pass Motor Sports Park includes Race on the Old Track/Car Show, OZ Motorsports Vintage Road Racing Event/Bondurant Party, the Lucas Oil Drag Boat World Finals and much more. For more information, visit racewildhorse.com or facebook.com/WildHorseMotorsportsPark.. STSN photos by Tiera

Allen