Crisis center needs clothes

ANTHEM – Clothing for West Valley Children’s Crisis Center is being collected by St. Rose Parish. Collection boxes will be available during services at 5 p.m., June 10, and at 8:30 a.m. and 1l a.m. on June 11.

St. Rose Parish holds its masses at Gavilan Peak School, 2701 W. Memorial Drive. For information, e‑mail dkomos@cox.net or call (623) 551‑5976.

Animal tales told

ANTHEM – A family‑oriented, half‑hour program of stories, songs and activities is presented every Wednesday in June at 10 a.m. at North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Children three and under must be accompanied by an adult. No registration needed. First come/first served, limited seating available. For information, call (602) 652‑3000 or visit www.mcldaz.org.

Learn to make a book

ANTHEM – Make a unique book in papercraft class, as instructed by folk artist, Susan Corl. Create a book in a choice of different forms: accordion, non‑adhesive binding, scroll, flag, lotus and flexagon. Registration is necessary. Ages 8‑11 meet at 2 p.m., and 12‑18 at 4 p.m., at North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. For information, call (602) 652‑3000 or visit www.mcldaz.org.

Neighbors learn to bench crime at summit

PHOENIX – The City of Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board and Mayor Phil Gordon partnered with city council and the police department to put together its annual Block Watch Summit designed to help bench crime. The day includes a resource fair and training sessions.

Block Watchers will have an opportunity to learn and develop the skills necessary to play a proactive and productive role in mitigating crime in the community. The summit will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 3 at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 North Central Avenue. Lunch will be served. To R.S.V.P., call (602) 534‑2424 ext. 5010, or e‑mail blockwatchsummit@phoenix.gov. For more information, go to http:// phoenix.gov/mayor/support/bwsummit.html.

Keep a journal

ANTHEM – Learn techniques for personal journals with the North Valley Journaling Group, 1 p.m., June 7, at North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Keeping a journal gives personal insight and helps reduce stress. June’s topic is travel.

In July, the group will meet for lunch at the Anthem Outlets Food Court to discuss and write about food and its place in our lives. Newcomers welcome. Registration needed. For information, call (602) 652‑3000 or visit www.mcldaz.org.

Books for babies

ANTHEM – A sharing time for babies from birth to two years and their caregivers begins at 10 a.m. every Thursday in June, and features songs, baby games, stories, play time and looking at board books. Each child must be accompanied by a caregiver. First come/first served, limited seating available, at North Valley Regional Library, 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. For information, call (602) 652‑3000 or visit www.mcldaz.org.

Umbrella Project donates to tsunami relief

SCOTTSDALE – Hilda Brown, founder of The Umbrella Project, a Scottsdale‑based organization that encourages children to artistically express themselves by painting umbrellas, recently returned from a trip to Thailand where she painted umbrellas with more than 100 children affected by the tsunami in December of 2004. Proceeds from the sale of these artistic umbrellas will benefit a foundation seeking to build an orphanage in the area.

The Umbrella Project also made a $1,500 donation to the foundation on behalf of the thousands of American students, including Cactus Shadows High School, who painted umbrellas to help tsunami‑affected children. For more information or to make a donation to the foundation, go to www.dpf.or.th