Fitness

4 Pillars of Ballroom Dancing

Are you ready to experience a world of joy, connection, and personal growth? Look no further than ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire Dance Studios! Our dance community is built on the strong foundation of "The 4 Pillars of Ballroom Dancing" - Social, Mental, Physical, and Emotional benefits that will enrich your life in countless ways. Let's explore each of these pillars and how they contribute to a transformative dance experience:Social Benefits: Ballroom dancing is a wonderful way to connect...

Travel

Hooked!

Article by Joyce Selk I have to admit, I never dreamed of standing on the deck of a boat in Alaska with a rod in hand. My idea of “fishing” was watching Mark cast a line into the “lake” behind our home. But fishing in Alaska was on his bucket list and he has endured many beach vacations just for me. Dreading the trip a bit, I was able to entice four of our friends to join us so we wouldn’t be alone on the adventure. None of us had done an adventure like this before and the idea of organizing a...

Arts + Culture

Dancing Through the Decades

Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Chandler Celebrates an Impressive Milestone Article by Michelle Talsma | Photography by Courtesy Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Chandler Thirty-one years ago, a small ballroom studio opened its doors in Chandler with one simple promise: to enrich lives through the joy of dance. Today, Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Chandler remains a community staple, alive with music, laughter, and movement as it marks more than three decades of helping people find rhythm and...

Life + Culture

Local Teen, Global Impact

A Chandler High Schooler Turns Ideas Into Action for Literacy Article by Michelle Talsma | Photography by Provided At 15, Chandler high school sophomore Cathy (Yuxuan) Jiang is tackling an issue with worldwide consequences: illiteracy. This year, she was named a 2025 Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation, joining a group of young leaders from 90 countries who are working to expand access to education across the globe. “I was inspired to apply because I believe education is a...

Education

From the Battlefield to Bookshelves

Local Author Explores Survival, Friendship, and the Aftermath of War Article by Michelle Talsma | Photography by James Patrick Chandler resident Alan Ramias has lived many lives—soldier, journalist, corporate strategist, and now, published author. The Vietnam veteran is channeling decades of memory and observation into stories that reach beyond Arizona and into the shared experience of war, survival, and human resilience. His latest book, Miss Moon , released in 2025, offers three distinct...

Food + Beverage

Raising a Glass, Remembering the Fallen

The Story of Four Branches Bourbon Article by Michelle Talsma | Photography by Courtesy Four Branches Bourbon The clink of a glass can carry more than a toast. For the founders of Four Branches Bourbon, every pour is a salute—to fallen comrades, to families left behind, and to the unshakable bond of service. What started as a single barrel made in memory of one man has grown into a mission-driven brand that, in just two years, has raised nearly half a million dollars for veteran and first...

Food + Beverage

Where Chandler Meets the Midwest

Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits Blends Old-School Butcher Shop Charm With Modern Tastes Article by Micaela Camacho | Photography by Lindsay Borg Walk through the doors of Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits in Chandler and the aroma of smoked sausage and sizzling ribeye is the first sign you’re not in an ordinary grocery store. Glass cases gleam with cuts of beef, pork, and chicken, while the staff greets customers by name. It feels like stepping back to a time when the neighborhood butcher shop was the...

Food + Beverage

Sweet Success

After Nursing School, Disney World, and Modeling, Pastry Chef Charles-Laurent Lelièvre Savors His Dream Career Article by Georgann Yara | Photography by Courtesy Charles-Laurent Lelièvre With a chiseled 6-foot-5-inch frame and irresistible smile, most would assume that Charles-Laurent Lelièvre is an athlete or model rather than a pastry chef.  And the France native, who was a swimmer as a teen and had a modeling career in New York City in his early 20s, is well aware that people would be...

Food + Beverage

Baked to Perfection

Owner of East Valley Bakery Shares Tips on How to Bake Incredible Cookies, Each and Every Time Article by Alison Stanton For as long as she can remember, Shannon Melde has loved to bake. “I specifically remember this ‘wacky cake’ recipe from a baking kit I had as a young child, and I made it constantly,” Melde says, adding that she also has fond memories of spending time in the kitchen with her mom, who she describes as an amazing baker. “After that, I remember just wanting to create all...

Local Services

Chandler Chamber of Commerce: A Century of Connection

Photography by Lindsay Borg Long before the City of Chandler was officially incorporated, Dr. A.J. Chandler understood the power of businesses working together. On April 27, 1912, he founded the Chandler Chamber of Commerce—an organization that has since grown into one of Arizona’s most influential voices for business and community. Today, the Chamber represents a remarkable network of 1,700 businesses with 175,000 employees. Backed by a diverse 38-member Board of Directors, 26 Ambassadors...