HEADLINE NEWS
The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) named Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther as Arizona’s “Chief of the Year.” Walther captured this award based on his commitment to the community, his success and leadership within his organization, and his dedication to AACOP and its mission. AACOP board member and city of Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost says, “Chief Jeff Walther embodies servant leadership. He is someone who cares deeply for his community and for every one of his employees. Walther in a short time has moved his already progressive department into an even higher level and has done so by being inclusive of the communities needs and the members of his department. He works seamlessly with other city staff and has built positive relationships over the years to achieve high level goals for the city and the police department.”
COVID-19 UPDATE
COVID-19 by the numbers. Maricopa County has been tracking COVID-19 cases since Jan. 22, 2020. Review the latest numbers.
Scottsdale remains at high community transmission for 28th straight week. The city’s COVID-19 case rate has decreased by 14.4% to 1,192.7 cases per 100,000 residents (week of Jan. 22). High transmission is defined as greater than 100 cases per 100,000 people. This indicates that 1.19% about 2,860) of the Scottsdale population had a recorded positive test for COVID-19. This does not include undetected cases of COVID-19, or unreported cases that have only been detected through an at-home test.
According to Maricopa County’s Vaccine Dashboard, 75.2% of eligible Scottsdale residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose, and 69.6% are fully vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is your best defense against getting or spreading COVID. Attend a city vaccine site (see below) or find another location.
Vaccines and boosters save lives, and we’re doing our part to help make testing and vaccinations more accessible.
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In partnership with Vincere Center Centers, the city is administering rapid COVID-19 testing for active infection (PCR and antigen), Influenza A+B tests and vaccinations by appointment at the following locations. Testing is available to everyone, 3 years and older. PCR test results will be available by the end of the next business day via email. Antigen results will be available onsite. Appointments are required for vaccines and recommended for testing; walk-ups are accepted until 3 p.m.
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Testing 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; vaccinations noon-4 p.m. Fridays by appointment only at Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road
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Testing 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; vaccinations noon-4 p.m. by appointment only Wednesdays at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.
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In partnership with the Maricopa County Public Health Department, Scottsdale Community College will offer testing 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through February. Testing is open to the public and appointments aren’t necessary.
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Free vaccine events continue through March 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. 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. 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.
THINGS TO DO
Western Week: Old Town Scottsdale transforms into an authentic Old West experience for the entire family. Connect with Old Town's history through Western and Native American festivals, art walks, the Hashknife Pony Express and the Parada del Sol. We will be spotlighting specific events closer to the week. Western Week runs through Sunday, Feb. 6.
Highlights:
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Gold Palette ArtWalk: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, Scottsdale Arts District. This month’s Gold Palette ArtWalk is dedicated to the theme of Western Week with entertainment, music and special offerings at participating galleries.
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64th Annual Hashknife Pony Express Arrival: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Marshall Way will be closed north of Second Street 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Come and witness the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world. This free event features the “Hashknife Boot Camp” for kids, free museum admission, live entertainment, family-friendly games, storytelling, crafts, face painting, onsite food trucks and more. At noon, the Hashknife Pony Express arrives in Scottsdale and delivers more than 20,000 pieces of mail to the U.S. Postal Service at the front steps of the museum. Address an envelope for Pony Express delivery!
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Parada del Sol and Trails End Festival: Parade - 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 5; Trails End Festival - noon-4 p.m., Historic Old Town. Traffic restrictions will be in place. View the route map. A celebration of the city’s past, present and future, the Parada del Sol Parade boasts more than 100 entries including colorful floats, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriages, marching bands, wagons and stagecoaches representing many cultures from Mexican to Native American to Arabian to Western. At the culmination of the parade, the Historic Old Town District becomes the setting for a Western-style block party with a kids’ area, pony rides, food and merchandise vendors, and multiple stages with live entertainment from today’s popular bands to traditional performers.
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Arizona Native Edible Experience: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, Western Spirit: Scottsdale Museum of the West. This event kicks off the Arizona Indian Festival. The evening presents a rich tapestry of Native Arizona through its history, food, people, music and culture and aims to bring together multiple Native communities to highlight and celebrate the contributions of Arizona’s Native peoples. A limited number of tickets are available for $25.
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Arizona Indian Festival: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, Old Town. The Arizona Indian Festival provides awareness of Arizona’s indigenous communities by creating an inclusive inter-tribal event celebrating culture, traditional arts, crafts and foods, as well as innovations and trends in cultural tourism experiences in Arizona.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are bringing the New Orleans spirit, along with Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha-Chas, to Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The Dirty Dozen’s music is a departure from the traditional New Orleans brass band sound, taking that classic foundation of brass band music and incorporating a blend of genres, including bebop jazz, funk and R&B/soul to their tunes. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11. Tickets start at $36. For information, visit ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/events or call 480-499-TKTS (8587). Read the center’s COVID-19 health protocol.
Ongoing Events and Activities:
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Protect your identity by bringing your personal and/or commercial documents to the shredding event Saturday. It runs from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in the Walmart parking lot, 15355 N. Northsight Blvd. Cost is $5 per box. Learn more.
Plug into Electronics Recycling Collection Day Saturday. Scottsdale residents can recycle unwanted electronics from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the city's Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador. Items accepted include computer, office and entertainment equipment.
FYI
Be a part of the Scottsdale Tourism Strategic Plan’s community survey. The city, in partnership with Experience Scottsdale, is developing a Tourism Strategic Plan to determine and identify sustainable growth, expansion and management opportunities, while enhancing the city’s long-term quality of life for residents and visitors. In preparation, the city is conducting a survey about living, working and playing in Scottsdale. The responses will help us better understand the community experience, as well as identify how we can protect, improve and enhance Scottsdale’s economic prosperity. Help us by taking this 10-minute survey by Feb. 22.
Find out about traffic restrictions in and around Scottsdale. Get the list.
