HEADLINE NEWS
Most city offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. Solid waste will not be collected on the 1st. Your trash and recycling will be collected one day later than normal. Learn more.
The Scottsdale Trolley will not operate New Years Day. Visit Valley Metro for complete holiday schedule information.
We will publish Scottsdale Update Tuesday, Jan. 2.
ADOT begins Loop 101 widening and improvement project this weekend. The project will take place between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road during the next two years. Construction includes adding one lane in each direction and making interchange modifications.
North- and southbound closures are scheduled over the Jan. 5 and 12 weekends.
Northbound Loop 101, from Shea Boulevard to Princess Drive/Pima Road will be closed 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, through 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8. It includes the following northbound on-ramps:
Detour routes will be signed, and traffic can re-enter the freeway at Princess Drive/Pima Road.
Southbound Loop 101, from Princess Drive/Pima Road and Shea Boulevard, will be closed 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 through 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15. It includes the following on-ramps:
Detour routes will be signed, and traffic can re-enter the freeway at Shea Boulevard.
Scottsdale Fire Department urges everyone to use fireworks safely and responsibly New Year’s Eve. Information and safety tips:
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Fireworks in and near many sensitive desert areas remain illegal and violators are subject to substantial fines. Use of fireworks is prohibited in Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Pinnacle Peak Park and properties within 1 mile of these fragile desert lands.
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They are also prohibited on all publicly owned properties, including but not limited to city buildings, parking lots, parks, streets and public schools.
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Only use fireworks outdoors, away from buildings and vehicles.
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Alcohol, fireworks and sparklers do not mix. Be responsible.
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Do not point or throw fireworks at another person.
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Children younger than 12 should not handle fireworks, including sparklers.
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When finished, place used fireworks in a bucket of water.
In addition, do not to shoot firearms in the air to celebrate. Shannon's Law, (ARS) 13-3107, makes it illegal to fire a gun into the air in Arizona's cities and towns.
Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host.
Attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration featuring professor and award-winning journalist Dr. Battinto Batts. The dean of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has extensive experience in philanthropy and nonprofit administration. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Scottsdale Stadium’s Field House, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Learn more and purchase tickets.
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Holiday Lights: Hop on board McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s Paradise & Pacific Railroad through Jan. 7, and experience a winter wonderland of holiday lights and displays. Visit and take a photo with Santa various times and days. Cost is $15; children two and younger ride free with a paying adult. To ensure a delightful experience for all, the event will have limited capacity and staggered entrance times. Access to the park will be exclusively for ticket holders during their designated time slot.
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Scottsdale ArtWalk: Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month.
Students are invited to apply for Community Celebrating Diversity scholarships. The nonprofit sponsors five $2,500 scholarships to high school graduates who show promise of continued excellence in academics and community service. Scholarships are for study at Arizona post-secondary institutions. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens or provide evidence they are permanent United States residents, full-time Arizona residents, involved in community projects and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Learn more and apply.
Recycle your Christmas trees and wreaths. Scottsdale Solid Waste Services is offering two ways to dispose of live trees and wreaths, Dec. 30- Jan. 15. Only real, untreated Christmas trees or wreaths (unwired) will be accepted. The city will not accept artificial trees, stands, ornaments, lights or storage bags.
Option No. 1: The city will provide yellow, labeled roll-off containers at the following drop off locations:
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Cactus Park: 7202 E. Cactus Road (Cactus and Scottsdale roads, southwest corner of the parking lot)
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Eldorado Park: 2301 N. Miller Road (77th Street and McDowell Road, parking lot east of the soccer fields)
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Scottsdale Ranch Park: 10400 E. Via Linda (104th Street and Via Linda, parking lot west of the basketball courts)
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Thompson Peak Park: 20199 N. 78th Place (Thompson Peak Parkway and Hayden Road, northeast parking lot.)
Option No. 2: Single-family home residents can place Christmas trees in your green waste pile for collection on your scheduled brush/bulk service week. Please separate from your bulk trash. View Brush & Bulk Collection Map and Schedule
Make Scottsdale even better in 2024 by serving on a city board or commission. The city has several openings on various boards and commissions, including:
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Airport Advisory Commission (one opening)
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Board of Adjustment (one opening)
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Environmental Advisory Commission (one opening)
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Historic Preservation Commission (one opening)
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Industrial Development Authority (one opening)
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McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission (two openings)
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Parks and Recreation Commission (two openings)
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Tourism Development Commission (one Scottsdale Hotelier position opening and one Industry Representative opening)
Break down shipping boxes before recycling. The surge in online shopping has produced an increase in shipping boxes in our waste stream referred to as the “Amazon Effect,” which is especially prevalent during the holidays. Do your part to properly recycle cardboard boxes. Break down your boxes before throwing them in your recycling bin. Be sure to remove shipping labels and packing tape. Moving, food and shipping boxes, and envelopes and folders can all be recycled if they are clean, dry and free of plastic packaging materials. Greasy pizza boxes are not recyclable and must go in your trash can. Get more recycling information.
December frost can damage plants. Average lowest temperatures of the year typically hit during December. Delay pruning until new foliage begins to emerge in the spring. The dead leaves and branches protect parts of the plant that are still alive. In addition, cover plants with sheets to protect them from frost damage.
Job of the Week: Payroll Specialist. The successful candidate reviews employees’ time entries; validates reports; and responds to and resolves complex and sensitive customer inquiries. Benefits include 12 paid holidays; sick leave; medical, dental and vision benefits; paid parental leave; tuition reimbursement; participation in Arizona State Retirement System; and more. Learn more and apply.
