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The U.S. Senate race in Arizona has captured the attention of political observers outside of the state. The Hill, a Washington, D.C.-based political newspaper, noted in March that incumbent Sen. John McCain is facing the toughest re-election challenge of his career. He’s being opposed in the primary by Republican State Sen. Kelli Ward, who’s also an osteopathic physician in Lake Havasu City, and by Republican Alex Meluskey, a printing company owner in Scottsdale. Other Republican candidates include Clair Van Steenwyk, who is also running for Congressional District 8 but whose name will be taken off the ballot in one or the other of those races before Election Day, and write-in candidate Sean Webster.

Three seats are up for grabs on the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission this year. The seats held by Andy Tobin (appointed to fill the term of Susan Bitter Smith, who resigned over conflict of interest concerns), Bob Burns and Bob Stump will be represented on the ballot. Burns and Tobin are running for re-election; Stump has termed out.

Does Mom want to keep driving even though her vision has become limited? Has Dad fallen before, but refuses to take preventive measures, insisting it won’t happen again? Has Mom’s memory started to fade but she tries to fake her way through it?

Duet offers support groups for family caregivers. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Phoenix will meet noon-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 2 and 16 at Church of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Caregivers East Valley will meet 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays Aug. 9 and 23, at Scottsdale Senior Center, 10440 Via Linda. Caregivers West Valley will meet 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Skyway Church of the West Valley, 14900 E. Van Buren St., Goodyear.

Since the landmark Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex marriage was handed down on June 26, 2015, many gay and lesbian couples across the nation have been married. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the momentous court decision, Jewish News caught up with one Valley couple who joyfully celebrated under the chuppah as a result.

Temple Emanuel of Tempe recently revived the ancient custom of the wimpel, a piece of cloth meant to be used at multiple lifecycle events throughout an individual’s life.

If you’re looking for an unusual venue for your simcha, why not consider an upscale bowling party at Bowlmor Lanes?

The crust requires 3 cups of three different kinds of groundnuts; if you do not have enough of one type, you can substitute another.

People who’ve never been to a Passover seder might be feeling a bit intimidated at the prospect. This guide should help first-time seder-goers relax. Share it with friends and family who have never been to a seder before, so they too may enjoy the celebration, discussion and lots of tasty food.

The Hebrew word “Haggadah” means “narration” or “telling.” As the Passover seder’s instruction manual, the Haggadah is perhaps the most important tool for fulfilling the Passover mitzvah of telling the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt (a mitzvah that is mentioned six times in the Torah).

The Council for Jews with Special Needs will host its first model seder this year, offering a traditional seder ceremony in a setting that accommodates those with short attention spans or those who have difficulty sitting still.

In the epilogue of their book, “In a Different Key: The Story of Autism,” John Donvan and Caren Zucker, two award-winning journalists, credit the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) and Greater Phoenix for creating a supportive community. 

No parent is ever thrilled about their child going on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to Dr. Raun Melmed, medical director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale. 

Since childhood, Gail Baer has known the value and importance of being involved in the community.

It’s hard to believe that 18 years ago, Rabbi Mendy and Shternie Deitsch came to the Valley with a baby, no place to live and a plan to hold High Holiday services at a local hotel.

Jumping in with both feet is something that Cindy Landesman has a lot of experience with; 15 years ago, she and her husband, Rabbi Raphael Landesman, moved to the Valley to be among the founders of the Phoenix Community Kollel.

When Kaylie Marsh volunteered with Camp Swift, a local nonprofit that provides educational and leadership opportunities for underprivileged youth, as a teenager, she probably didn’t think she would end up running the organization someday.

Don’t make Judy Schaffert out to be a selfless individual – quite the opposite, she’d say.

Each February, we mark Jewish Disability Awareness Month. This year, the decision was made to add “inclusion” to the equation, and it is now called Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. This addition may seem insignificant, but actually marks a movement toward action. 

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Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend. They’re snuggly, warm and generally have a good sense of what their owners want. And some dogs give more than puppy love. Service dogs are trained to help people with disabilities such as visual or hearing impairments, seizure disorders, mobility issues and diabetes.

Our trip to Israel over this past winter break was with my mom, my dad, my younger sister, my grandpa, my dad’s cousins and two friends. Overall, there were 10 of us, plus our guide. We decided to travel with a guide, which, in hindsight, was the right decision because we had no idea where to go or what to do.

Summer camp is often a child’s initial solo experience. That can be a pretty formidable venture, even for the child blessed with all kinds of advantages. However, for a child with emotional or behavioral challenges, the notion of attending a sleepaway camp for a couple of weeks can be rather overwhelming. Despite the understandable anxiety, children who struggle with issues of self-control and judgment that other children navigate easily, attend sleepaway camps every summer all across the country. These challenges need not deny the child the benefits of a wonderful sleepaway camp experience.

As summer gets closer, many parents are closer to having to make a decision about what to do with their children once school ends – and how to afford it.

When Ilana Scheinker’s infant son, Adin, started teething at only 4 months old, she knew she needed to find something to help her baby through this difficult stage.

The long-accepted practice of sending older adults off to an institution once their abilities begin to decline is gradually being replaced by a kinder, more holistic approach to growing old known as “aging in place.” Aging in place allows seniors to remain close to families and communities as opposed to digging up roots and facing the unknown alone. With the help of friends, family and in-home-care agencies, older adults who “age in place” are rewarded with a wide array of benefits.

Janet Arnold wears two hats at Jewish Family & Children’s Service; besides being the senior concierge, she provides help to seniors in need who seek to enroll in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program.

Here are many resources for senior support and social programming in the local Jewish community. Several synagogues also have programs for seniors. Additional senior resources are in the 2016 Community Directory, available at jewishaz.com.