Sherry Jackson

When iconic rock band Chicago brings its 2019 “An Evening With Chicago” tour to Greenville later this month, it’ll mark 52 years of nonstop touring for one of the most successful rock groups in history.
Best known for its classic horns and vocalists, the band will be playing some of its greatest hits in a 2.5-hour show at the 2,000-plus-seat concert hall at the Peace Center.
Chicago is a powerhouse of a band, selling more than 100 million records in its 52 years with thousands of concerts, 36...

There’s a thrill, an excitement, a nostalgic feeling one gets when riding a train. The slower pace makes us slow down and enjoy the scenery while giving us a glimpse into a bygone era.
Whether it’s a short ride to a mining town in an open-air car or a longer trek up the coast of California in a luxury coach, riding on a train feels like an indulgence. It’s a unique experience providing an appreciation to the engineering of the railways and railcars. Through valleys, canyons and coastlines, me...

Violinist Lucia Micarelli is bringing her “little homegrown show” as part of her first solo tour to Chandler Center for the Arts on October 20.
“It’s not a big production. It’s acoustic music and pared-down arrangements. If you hear three instruments, you see three instruments. It’s our little homegrown show,” says Micarelli, whose eclectic musical range features everything from classical to jazz to Americana to rock.
“I don’t know what it’s (the solo tour) going to be like in terms of the mu...

Buying or selling a home can be a stressful and sometimes scary undertaking. Home sellers need to find a realtor, possibly get repairs done to the house to get it on the market, and worry about having strangers traipsing through the home during showings. On the buying side, the decisions are countless. House or condo? Yard or no yard? What neighborhood? What amenities? The list goes on and on.
For those over 50, there are even more things to consider. Will you be downsizing? Are you looking f...

Exercise is important for everyone, but for those over 50, it’s vital. Just walking or moving a few days a week helps strengthen the heart and lungs. According to the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, exercise can also lower blood pressure, increase balance and flexibility and reduce the risk of developing conditions and disabilities. Doing just three hours of exercise a week can increase a person’s life span by five years.
For some, it’s now or never, a...

Maintenance-free living for seniors coming to downtown Tempe
A 20-story building in downtown Tempe broke ground in February. But this high-rise won’t be for ASU college students. It’s geared towards a different kind of senior – those 62 and older.
Mirabella at ASU will offer maintenance-free living right in the heart at ASU’s campus at Mill Avenue and University Drive. The building is expected to be completed in 2020 and is already 80 percent sold. At the ground-breaking ceremony, ASU preside...

Today’s senior communities offer upscale care with plenty of options and amenities
There comes a point for all of us, some begrudgingly, when we realize it’s time to downsize and look for accommodations that can carry us throughout our senior years.
But seniors today don’t want the stark, almost hospital-like facilities of yesteryear. They want to age in place, never having to move again, and enjoy an active lifestyle with resort-grade amenities; fresh, healthful, chef-driven cuisine; and ple...

Craft homes in a craft neighborhood is a little different than the mega-subdivisions usually touted in the East Valley. And that’s exactly what sets Gilbert-based Porchlight Homes apart from the rest.
The home developer recently opened its newest craft community, Eastpoint, in Gilbert on the southwest corner of Power and Guadalupe roads. The gated neighborhood has 78 homesites with three floor plans and will feature a community pool with ramada, restrooms and barbecue grills along with greens...

It’s pool season here in the East Valley. So, whether you’re buying a new home equipped with a pool, having one constructed or upgrading a pool, there are many technological advances to make your pool smarter. Smart monitoring
Taking care of a pool and hot tub can be time consuming, but new technology can make it a little easier. pHin offers a Wi-Fi-enabled smart monitor and a mobile phone app to take away the guesswork when it comes to balancing water quality. The monitor continuously checks...

With our hot summertime temps, it’s definitely pool season in Arizona. New home builders face a multitude of decisions, like whether or not to build a pool now or wait until after the house is built.
Well, we’ve done the digging and asked experts for their thoughts.
“There are many reasons to take advantage of putting in a pool when building a new home,” said Jeff Ast, president, Shasta Pools.
“Oftentimes the pool can be excavated with a normal track hoe and a dump truck right in the back yar...

Arizona is a popular place to retire, and for very good reasons. We have a great quality of life with warm winters and abundant sunshine throughout the year. Add in a favorable tax structure for seniors, plenty of health care, continuing education options and a relatively low crime rate and cost of living, and it’s easy to see why so many people spend their retirement years here.
According to 55Places.com, a website featuring active adult communities in the United States, there are 59 “active...

New Home section

Fighter jets screaming through the air, tours of historic aircraft and parachute teams descending from the sky are some of the activities planned for Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18, at Luke Air Force Base’s Luke Days.
Organizers wanted to give the public a “more robust and dynamic experience” this year. Therefore, they invited the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerial demonstration team to headline for the first time since 1992.
“The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial team had a change in co...

By Sherry Jackson, Contributor
Lois Moncel has been teaching classes such as step, Pilates and chair aerobics since she joined the Robson Ranch Arizona team four months ago. Now, she is stepping up as the new Director of Fitness and Wellness.
Lois has more than 25 years’ experience in fitness & wellness and was Fitness Director at Red Mountain Country Club in Mesa for four years before coming to Robson Ranch.
“I’ve done everything from Health Club management, personal training, group fitness ...

Robson Resort Communities’ DesertFest at Pebble Creek is back for its fourth year with a one-day public event featuring food, entertainment and more. The event will be held near the Tuscany Clubhouse from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 3.
“During this one-day extravaganza, visitors will enjoy live music, wine tasting, an art show and food truck fare, plus over 50 local area vendors that will display their goods and services,” said Linda Robson, publisher, Robson Publishing and one of th...