Volunteer reading tutors needed

VALLEY – Phoenix‑based All‑Star Kids Tutoring, a nonprofit literacy group, is seeking 250 adult volunteers to foster literacy skills in children.

The ASKT program matches caring adults and struggling readers for 90 minutes each week at sites across the Valley. ASKT volunteers help second and third‑grade students who are having difficulties improve their basic reading skills.

 For more information, call (602) 957‑0000.

Desert Foothills Library kicks off fall schedule

DESERT FOOTHILLS – The Desert Foothills Library announced the kickoff of their fall schedule for children’s activities.

Regularly scheduled programs are on Mondays and Thursdays. Children ages 5 and under are invited to story time from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

On Mondays, the library offers a half‑hour of song and dance following story time, and on Thursdays the library provides craft projects which last until noon. Some crafts, though simple, may need parent/guardian assistance.

From 10:30‑11:30 a.m. today, the library will feature a Fire Prevention Day program for  toddlers through 6th graders. The program will include a presentation by local forest rangers. For more information, call (480) 488‑2286 or visit www.desertfoothillslibrary.com.

Cave Creek Dairy Queen to benefit children’s charity

CAVE CREEK – As part of a national one‑day campaign, the Cave Creek Dairy Queen on Aug. 10 will donate all proceeds from the sales of its “soft serve” Blizzard treats to the Children’s Miracle Network, an alliance of 170 hospitals for children.

Store co‑owner Jim Thompson said this fundraiser marks the first such coordinated national effort for Dairy Queen.

The Cave Creek store is located at 6548 E. Cave Creek Road.

New River Senior Center selling raffle tickets

NEW RIVER – The New River Senior Center is holding a raffle to benefit the center, with the winner to receive a handmade quilt. 

Tickets sell for $1 each or six for $5 and are available at the center, located at 48606 N. 17th Ave. in New River. The drawing will be held at 1 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the center.

In other senior center news, there will be no pancake breakfast on Aug. 12. The next breakfast will be Sept. 9.

For tickets and information, call (623) 465‑0367.                     

Public invited to attend dance, theater performances 

ANTHEM – The Informal Student Showcase of the First Annual Summer Theater Arts Intensive (STAI) will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, at Dynamic Motion Dance Academy, 41st Drive and Anthem Way in Anthem.

The performance marks the conclusion of the two‑week dance and theater training experience at the studio under the instruction of  Kenda Newbery. STAI participants from Intensive classes II and III as well as Movement E‑motion will be performing.

Friends and family members are welcome, but there is limited seating, so bring your own chair or pillow. Video cameras and photography are welcome. For further information, call (480) 215‑1916, or visit www.azdance.org