Scottsdale Update Newsletter, August 25

Thursday, Aug. 25

Headlines

Friday is last day to vote early at City Hall

Express trolley route aims to ease Downtown Scottsdale on-street parking

Loop 101 weekend closures, Aug. 26-29

Events

Celebrate Scottsdale Sports Complex’s 10^th anniversary Friday

Check out these ongoing activities and events

For Your Information

Help make Valley transportation better

Fight the bite . . . from mosquitoes

Scottsdale Arts: The new face of the Scottsdale Cultural Council

Programs & Services

ASU Startup School aids entrepreneurs

Library’s “Senior Makers @SPL” Series presents “Planet of Percussions”

Dispose of your brush and bulk

Headlines

Friday is last day to vote early at City Hall

While Scottsdale will not hold an Aug. 30 primary election, we are still hosting in-person early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 26, at Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Many Scottsdale residents receive early ballots – more than 100,000. But last election fewer than 30,000 were actually voted and returned (about 31 percent). Learn more about Scottsdale’s 2016 election, including links to voter registration and early ballot requests, at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “elections.”

Express trolley route aims to ease Downtown Scottsdale on-street parking

A new express trolley and other parking adjustments in Downtown Scottsdale aim to improve the downtown experience for merchants, visitors and people who work there. Beginning Monday, Sept. 19, the free Scottsdale Trolley will operate an express route with fewer stops from 4 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. This helps people who work in that area to find free parking and get a convenient ride to the office. Learn more about the express route and other changes at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “downtown parking.”

Loop 101 weekend closures, Aug. 26-29

The Loop 101 Pima Freeway will be closed for paving northbound from McDonald Drive to 90^th Street from 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29. The following northbound ramps will be closed:

• Indian School Road on
• Chaparral Road on
• McDonald Drive on
• Talking Stick Way/Indian Bend on and off
• Via de Ventura on and off
• 90^th Street off

This project will widen the Loop 101 between the Red Mountain 202 north to Shea Boulevard. Construction is expected to be completed this fall. Learn more at AZDot.gov.

Events

Celebrate Scottsdale Sports Complex’s 10^th anniversary Friday

The community is invited to an open house Friday, Aug. 26, to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Scottsdale Sports Complex. The fun begins at 7 p.m. with music, games/activities, food trucks, raffle prizes and more. Several youth sports organizations also will be on hand with information about their programs. The 71-acre complex, 8081 E. Princess Drive, accommodates a variety of flat field sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football and rugby. Get details at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “sports complex.”

Check out these ongoing activities and events:

• ArtWalk – Visit many of the roughly 70 art galleries in Downtown Scottsdale, 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, year ’round, Scottsdale Arts District.
• 365 Live – Live and local performers take to the streets of Downtown Scottsdale 365 times throughout the year, bringing an exciting new energy to the heart of the city. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. 480-980-6202.
• Free Downtown Trolley – New & improved service! Runs every 10 minutes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
• Downtown Cultural Trolley Tours – 10:30 a.m. second Saturday of the month, Old Adobe Mission, Downtown Scottsdale. 480-634-6850. Free.
• McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Hikes and educational programs – ongoing.
• WestWorld hosts various horse shows and other events.
• See more on the events by visiting the city’s Event Calendar.

For Your Information

Help make Valley transportation better

Frustrated by traffic? Want a better biking or transit experience? Sign up for the Maricopa Association of Governments Household Travel Survey to share a little about your travel so the association can help make your trips better. It needs to understand how people use the region’s transportation network so it can develop solutions. Participants are required to use an app to track their travel over a two-day span. Download the app to share your info and earn $10 per household member 6 years and older. Call the survey team at 602-707-0085 for more information.

Fight the bite . . . from mosquitoes

Recent rains have brought a round of pesky mosquitoes. You can help eliminate and prevent mosquitoes from breeding by following these simple tips:

• Drain animal watering troughs, bird baths and pet watering dishes weekly.
• Drain standing water from buckets and other containers that can collect water.
• Repair water leaks, sprinkler systems or coolers that cause water to pond.
• Remove vegetation and floating debris in and around ponds and stagnant swimming pools to limit breeding potential.
• Fill in low spots in your yard.
• Control the irrigation in your yard or pastures.

Maricopa County Vector Control is responsible for investigating mosquito complaints. Get more tips and a mosquito fogging schedule at Maricopa.gov.

Scottsdale Arts: The new face of the Scottsdale Cultural Council

The Scottsdale Cultural Council recently announced its new name – Scottsdale Arts. Scottsdale Arts is the umbrella organization for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Scottsdale Public Art. Scottsdale Arts’ rebranding includes a new logo and website, ScottsdaleArts.org. “Scottsdale Arts is bold and direct, and perfectly represents the fundamental mission of our organization – to provide our city’s residents and visitors with exceptional arts and educational experiences – now and into the future,” Scottsdale Arts President & CEO Neale Perl said in a statement.

Programs & Services

ASU Startup School aids entrepreneurs

Arizona State University is offering a six-week program to introduce entrepreneurs to the nuts and bolts of starting their own venture. The program runs at 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 6.-Oct. 11, in the Eureka Loft at Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Join the growing community of supportive startup professionals as you develop and grow your new business. Register at ScottsdaleLibrary.org or call 480-312-READ (7323) for details.

Library’s “Senior Makers @SPL” Series presents “Planet of Percussions”

Seven-time Grammy winner Will Clipman hosts a pair of presentations on percussions at the Appaloosa and Civic Center libraries. Following a lecture and demonstration of world music rhythm and polyrhythm, participants will to create their own percussion composition. The programs take place at10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Appaloosa Library; and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Civic Center Library. The “Senior Makers @ SPL” is a grant-funded initiative to provide programs for seniors to cultivate health and wellness, as well as lifelong learning. Register at ScottsdaleLibrary.org or call 480-312-READ (7323).

Dispose of your brush and bulk

The city provides monthly brush and bulk item collection offering residents a convenient way to dispose of items too large for refuse containers. Place brush and bulk items out for pickup by 5 a.m. Monday the week of scheduled service. Here’s when we’ll be in your neighborhood:

• Service Area #1 – Thunderbird Road to Indian Bend Road, east of the 101 Freeway; and Dynamite Boulevard to northern city limits: Week of Aug. 29.
• Service Area #2 – Bell Road to Indian Bend Road, west of the 101 Freeway; and Dynamite Boulevard to Happy Valley Road: Week of Sept. 12.
• Service Area #3 – Indian Bend Road to Thomas Road; and Happy Valley Road to Pinnacle Peak Road: Week of Sept. 19.
• Service Area #4 – Thomas Road to McKellips Road; and Pinnacle Peak Road to Thunderbird Road (including McDowell Mountain Ranch): Week of Sept. 26.

Learn more at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “brush and bulk collection.”