East Side
Santa to visit Rincon Valley Farmers Market
It's Christmas time at Rincon Valley Farmers Market on Saturday, when Santa will stop by to celebrate the holidays and hand out gifts for children.
Pet shots will be available for dogs and cats from 9 a.m. to noon, and there will be dog training demonstrations.
The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. It's at 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail, about four miles east of the Saguaro National Park entrance.
The market is a project of the Rincon Institute and offers organic produce, baked goods, soaps, jewelry, handcrafted items and music.
The market will be closed Saturday, Dec. 30. It will be open again on Jan. 6.
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For more information, call 591-2276, or go online to www.rinconinstitute.org/rvfm.
Christmas party is set for children with cancer
The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation on Saturday will celebrate a Christmas party for more than 80 children who have cancer.
The event at the Voyager RV Resort is not open to the public.
The children will receive a gift they have asked for and a handmade stocking.
Candlelighters is a nonprofit parent-run support network for those affected by children with cancer.
For more information about the organization, call 747-3072, 609-8953 or go online to www.candlelightersaz.org.
Cancer patient, 3, gets Make-A-Wish playhouse
After more than a year of battling cancer, 3-year-old Hannah Holguin was cheered up with a two-story playhouse from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The 9-foot castle has a tower, a faux fireplace and a secret room. It also is decorated inside with toys and furniture, said Hannah's father, Marc Holguin.
"She loves it," he said of Hannah, who also is a fan of fairy tales. "She said it's like a dream come true."
Hannah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in September of 2005. The cancer tumor in her abdomen was removed by a specialist in New York, Holguin said.
For the last couple of months, Hannah has undergone chemo- therapy and her cancer is now in remission.
The University Medical Center pediatrics staff recommended Hannah for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Throughout the year, foundation members spent time with Hannah and got to know her.
On Dec. 2, she got not only the playhouse, but also a Cinderella dress and a beauty treatment, donated by local companies. The family also was taken out to dinner and spent the night at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, Holguin said.
"It makes it easier after everything we've been through," he said.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation Arizona chapter has granted more than 2,800 wishes to Arizona children with life-threatening illnesses since 1980, a Foundation press release states.
The experience has touched the Holguins so much that Marc, his wife, Amy, and some of their friends plan to volunteer for a good cause in the future.
Everyone was just really helpful, he said. "We also want to get involved with something."
