HEADLINE NEWS
Expanded library and senior center hours start today. All four library branches will be open seven days a week:
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Buildings will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
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Drive-thru and curbside service will be available from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Both the Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.
THIS WEEK: The city will host another vaccination clinic at Scottsdale Stadium. Vaccinations will be available 2-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, or Wednesday, Jan. 12. All three vaccination types will be available – registration is not required; walk-ins are welcome.
In addition, the city is hosting another series of free vaccine events at community centers. We’re offering the Pfizer vaccine (5 and older), and the Janssen and Moderna (both for 18 and older) vaccines:
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Horizon Community Center, 15444 N. 100th St.: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 14 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, and March 11 and 25.
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Eldorado Park and Community Center, 2311 N. Miller Road: 1-4 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14 and 28.
Registration is not required; walk-ins are welcome. Please check in no later than 30 minutes before the session ends. Call 602-506-6767 for more information.
Find information about free vaccines, boosters and testing for Scottsdale residents.
Chaos or Community: What can Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s work and writings teach us now? Join a community town hall discussion that considers Dr. King's final published work, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” and what lessons it, and Dr. King's other work, have for us today. This discussion is for everyone ages 15 and older, and it is hosted by the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission. Light refreshments will be provided. The program runs from 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at Horizon Community Center, 15444 N 100th St.
The event is free, but registration is required.
COVID-19 UPDATE
COVID-19 by the numbers. Maricopa County has been tracking COVID-19 cases since Jan. 22, 2020. Review the latest numbers.
New year, same pandemic. During the week of Dec. 25, Scottsdale saw its highest COVID-19 case rate since Jan. 10, 2021 – an increase of 105.1 percent. We all need to do our part to stop the spread, especially at work where we spend most of our time. Brush up on the basics to protect yourself and others:
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Get vaccinated and boosted (see upcoming city events under Headline News above).
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Wear a mask. See CDC guidelines.
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Physically distance.
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Wash your hands frequently.
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Stay home when you're sick, even if it’s just a cold.
THINGS TO DO
Scottsdale Public Art hosts the “FIRST: Native American Artists of Arizona” exhibition through March 30, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library. This exhibit features work by artists who descend from the first Indigenous people of North America and blends both traditional and contemporary Native American art. In addition to the exhibition, there are a few events associated with the show. Get details.
Wednesday: Motivational speaker Patricia Russell-McCloud headlines the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration. Russell-McCloud works to create an environment in which high achievement among young African Americans is the rule rather than the exception. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at the Embassy Suites Scottsdale Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road. Learn more and register.
Run to Thursday’s Gold Palette ArtWalk: Demonstrations and Donuts. The Scottsdale Gallery Association is ringing in 2022 with its annual “Demonstration… and Donuts” Gold Palette ArtWalk 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan.13. Guests can enjoy live entertainment from bagpipers as they stroll the streets of the Scottsdale Arts District — Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue. Participating galleries will also be featuring live artist demonstrations and donut sampling. Get details.
Ongoing Events and Activities:
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
The spring 2022 Neighborhood College session kicks off Wednesday. Two tracks are available: The HOA/Condo Series and The Good Neighbor Series. Classes focus on city programs, volunteer opportunities, personal safety tips and HOA guidelines. Some sessions are hybrid (in person and online), while others are only online. Get dates, class descriptions and registration information. Classes are free, but registration is required.
Join a free Green Building webinar: “Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage and Electrification.” Electric vehicles (EV) contribute to cleaner air, and electric utilities are preparing for the increasing number of them expected to hit the roads in the coming years. Learn how SRP and APS are committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting EV charging infrastructure. The program starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Register for the webinar. Learn more about the Green Building Program.
Lives in the balance. This free eight-week program will help participants manage falls, increase activity levels and promote exercise to increase strength and balance. Classes begin Friday, Jan. 14, at both Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers. For more information and to register, call Granite Reef at 480-312-1700 or Via Linda at 480-312-5810.
FYI
Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons run through Scottsdale Jan. 16; note traffic restrictions. Traffic restrictions and road closures on several major Scottsdale streets will be in effect from 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. Drivers are strongly encouraged to use the freeway system to avoid the marathon routes.
The major street restrictions:
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Hayden Road southbound closed between McKellips and McDowell roads
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McDowell Road eastbound closed between 52nd Street and Hayden Road
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Scottsdale Road northbound closed at McDowell Road (limited local access provided)
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Scottsdale Road southbound closed at Thomas Road (limited local access provided)
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Thomas Road closed between Scottsdale Road to 64th Street (limited local access provided)
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Miller Road northbound closed at McDowell Road
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Oak Street westbound closed at Scottsdale Road
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64th Street southbound closed between Indian School and McDowell roads
Call the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Community Relations Hotline at 623-252-2485 for questions or concerns. Send emails to [email protected]. Learn more about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.
Protect your home’s pipes during freezing temperatures. Even in the desert, winter temperatures can drop below freezing. Plan ahead to prevent pipes from freezing and the costly repairs associated with them. Follow these simple tips:
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Wrap exposed pipes outside or in unheated areas of your home with insulation (a towel, blanket, small rug, etc.)
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Remove garden hoses from outside faucets
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Cover vents around the foundation of your home
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If you have a pool, set your timer for the pump to run between 9 p.m.-7 a.m. Running water won’t freeze.
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Turn off drip irrigation and sprinkler systems.
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Know where your property owner’s cut-off valve is located and how to use it. The valve is located adjacent to the water meter box.
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Get more tips.
To report a water emergency, contact Scottsdale Water customer service 24 hours a day at 480-312-5650.
State of Scottsdale video will launch in lieu of State of the City event. With COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations on the rise, Mayor David D. Ortega has made the difficult decision to delay his State of Scottsdale address. The event that was scheduled for 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 18, is cancelled.
In its place, Mayor Ortega will release a State of Scottsdale video in February.
"Scottsdale has many reasons to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of our community," said Mayor Ortega. "While we won't do that together in person as I would have liked, I look forward to sharing those stories, and talking about the challenges and choices that lie ahead."
Details on the State of Scottsdale video will be shared in the coming weeks.
Recycle your natural Christmas tree through Jan. 17. Large collection bins are available at these city parks: Eldorado, Chaparral, Scottsdale Ranch, Cactus, Horizon, Scottsdale Sports Complex and Thompson Peak. Live Christmas trees will be made into compost and save landfill space. We do not accept artificial trees, stands or ornaments. Single-family home residents can place Christmas trees in their green waste pile, separated from bulk trash, for collection on their scheduled brush/bulk service week.
Scottsdale has partnered with the National Forest Foundation to secure the quality and safety of the city's drinking water supply. Through this partnership, the National Forest Foundation can reduce sediment in our local watersheds and increase forest health - ultimately helping to improve the overall water quality for residents and businesses in Scottsdale.
Through two years of watershed investment, the partnership has resulted in the leveraging over 4,000 acres of fire risk reduction dropping the risk of high severity fire by 30-60 percent, 400 acres of hydrologic improvement, including replenishment of more than 80 million gallons of water per year on one site alone, and over 55 tons of sediment annually stopped from moving into our rivers and water reservoirs.
With support from the city of Scottsdale, The Northern Arizona Forest Fund continues to reach new project goals that reduce wildfire and flood risks in our watersheds and that minimize erosion and sedimentation in our streams and reservoirs. Together, we are committed to protecting Scottsdale’s water supplies, and will continue to invest in the places our surface water comes from.
Find out about traffic restrictions in and around Scottsdale. Get the list.
