Scottsdale Update Newsletter: Sept. 22

Posted By Les Conklin on Sep 22, 2016

Thursday, Sept. 22

Headlines

Scottsdale acquires key parcels for McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Time names Scottsdale among top 50 best places to live

So much to see! City presents Scottsdale Show and Tell, Oct. 1

Events

“Lights on Afterschool” event promotes programs supporting working families

Check out these ongoing activities and events

For Your Information

Celebrate the “Freedom to Read”

Protect your ride – register your bicycle

Hispanic pioneer left lasting imprint on Scottsdale

Get the latest City Council meeting agenda

Programs & Services

The Fab Five – “Visit” Utah’s spectacular national parks, Sept. 29

Don’t be a victim of identity theft; shred event takes place Oct. 1

Green Building Lecture presents “Rooftop Solar: An Exciting Future for All”

Dispose of your brush and bulk

Headlines

Scottsdale acquires key parcels for McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Scottsdale acquired 415 acres of land for its McDowell Sonoran Preserve at two state land auctions this week. The city was the only bidder. The city’s successful bids totaled $30.4 million. Funding will come from money generated by two dedicated sales taxes approved by Scottsdale voters in 1995 and 2004. With today’s acquisitions, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses more than 30,500 contiguous acres – nearly 47 square miles. That achieves 90 percent of the long-range goal to preserve about 34,000 acres, nearly a third of the city’s land area. Learn more at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “preserve.”

Time names Scottsdale among top 50 best places to live

Scottsdale ranked #50 in Time’s “Best 50 Places to Live 2016” – the only Arizona city to capture the recognition. Time analyzed 60 key factors for the rankings: taxes, education, health care and more. “Scottsdale boasts more destination spas per capita than any other city in the nation; these days, high-end restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops are plentiful around town. And let’s not forget golf – more than 200 courses. Not surprisingly, tourism is Scottsdale’s most important employer and economic driver.” Learn more about the recognition at Time.com, search “Scottsdale.”

So much to see! City presents Scottsdale Show and Tell, Oct. 1

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the city during a family-friendly event Saturday, Oct. 1. Scottsdale Show and Tell takes place in conjunction with the free Children’s Learning and Play Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road. Discover how essential services like water, sewer and trash pickup are provided. Read with librarians, play with parks & recreation coordinators and meet police officers and firefighters. Fun, interactive displays and hands-on activities reveal how city employees work every day to keep Scottsdale running safely and smoothly. The hands-on experience extends to the trucks, machinery and technology used by the city to maintain Scottsdale’s great quality of life. For more information, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “Scottsdale Show and Tell.”

Events

“Lights on Afterschool” event promotes programs supporting working families

With many parents and caregivers working fulltime, “out of school” kids’ programs are an imperative service. The city’s “Lights on Afterschool” highlights services available to support working families. The free program starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Scottsdale Stadium, northeast corner of Drinkwater Boulevard and Osborn Road. Various activities include booth games, photo booth, sidewalk chalk art, music, inflatables and much more. Learn more at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “lights on.”

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

Celebrate the “Freedom to Read”

The Scottsdale Library is seeking patrons 10 to 18 years old to participate in “Freedom to Read” which celebrates the joy of reading. The program commemorates Banned Books Weeks, a national effort to celebrate the freedom to read. Young adults attending the program will make silk-screened t-shirts. Supplies are provided. Two free programs will be held:

4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, Civic Center Library
2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Palomino Library

Protect your ride – register your bicycle

Scottsdale is ranked among the best cities for bicycling. That popularity, however, comes at a cost – bicycle thefts. Protect yourself from thieves by registering your bikes. This is an important tool that can aid in the recovery of lost or stolen bicycles. It provides important information to help the Scottsdale Police Department reunite stolen or lost bicycles with their owners. Residents in the registration program will receive stickers for their bicycle frames with a unique QR code that can be scanned by an officer or resident.

To register your bicycle, you’ll need:

Name
Demographic information (birth date, sex, race)
Address
Phone Number(s)
Email
Bicycle Information, including serial number

Hispanic pioneer left lasting imprint on Scottsdale

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs through Oct. 15. Scottsdale was settled and continues to be shaped by citizens of Hispanic heritage. This is the story of one of those pioneers … YouTube.com/user/ScottsdaleAZgov, search “Noriega.”

Get the latest City Council meeting agenda

To get City Council meeting and agenda information, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “council agenda.”

Programs & Services

The Fab Five – “Visit” Utah’s spectacular national parks, Sept. 29

Celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the National Parks Service! Arizona hiker and photographer Larry Zuiker takes us on a virtual tour of Utah’s Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches and Capitol National Parks. The free program is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. You’ll see astonishing photos of towering canyons, majestic arches, fairyland formations, frightening cliffs and magical passageways. Larry will share the amazing stories of his incredible journeys. Learn more at ScottsdaleLibrary.org.

Don’t be a victim of identity theft; shred event takes place Oct. 1

Bring your personal and/or commercial documents to be shredded from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in the Walmart parking lot, 15355 N. Northsight Blvd. A $3 per box donation is requested. Other shred events: Nov. 5 and Dec. 3; and in 2017 on Jan. 7, Feb. 11, March 4, April 1 and May 6. Visit POSACommunityOutreach.org for details.

Green Building Lecture presents “Rooftop Solar: An Exciting Future for All”

Scottsdale’s Green Building series kicks off with a lively discussion and update on rooftop solar, net-metering, evolving solar incentives, milestones and the future of photovoltaics. This free program will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. RSVPs are not needed. Two speakers will lead the discussion as participants learn about the revolutionary opportunities made possible by newly affordable solar energy and the rapidly evolving energy transition.

Paul Hirt, a sustainability scholar at Arizona State University, will address the solar energy revolution, why solar is coming faster than anyone expected and how it will change our world.
Brandon Cheshire from SunHarvest Solar will address the evolving state of solar affairs and demystifying the myths and facts around solar.

Learn more at ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “green building.”

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 #4 – Thomas Road to McKellips Road; and Pinnacle Peak Road to Thunderbird Road (including McDowell Mountain Ranch): Week of Sept. 26.
Service Area #1 – Thunderbird Road to Indian Bend Road, east of the 101 Freeway; and Dynamite Boulevard to northern city limits: Week of Oct. 3.
Service Area #2 – Bell Road to Indian Bend Road, west of the 101 Freeway; and Dynamite Boulevard to Happy Valley Road: Week of Oct. 10.
Service Area #3 – Indian Bend Road to Thomas Road; and Happy Valley Road to Pinnacle Peak Road: Week of Oct. 17.

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

Get a complete list of Scottsdale events and public meetings. Get Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts events or call 480-499-TKTS (8537). Get Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art events or call 480-874-4666. Get Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West events or call 480-686-9539. Reach Scottsdale Update by emailing Jan Horne or call 480-312-2636.