HEADLINE NEWS
The National Weather Service is predicting record-breaking high temperatures through Monday. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid 90s, so take extra caution as you explore our beautiful McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Please leave your dogs at home; the desert heat can kill them with little or no warning. Follow these safety tips:
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Visit the preserve early in the day. Gates open about 30 minutes before sunrise.
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Bring ample water. When it is half gone, turn around.
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Begin hydrating your body prior to your outing, even the night before.
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Plan a route that fits your physical abilities and the expected weather conditions.
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Take a map with you.
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Bring your fully-charged cell phone.
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Be alert and watch for rattlesnakes.
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Wear sturdy footwear, a hat, sunscreen and light-colored clothing that covers your skin.
Scottsdale workshop explores smart city solutions. Scottsdale is seeking feedback as part of its participation in the 2022 Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge. The challenge will help Scottsdale build capacity over the next year by identifying technology solutions that meet community needs, prioritizing processes to accelerate deployment of these solutions and integrating sound practices so residents are involved and can trust outcomes. The workshop runs 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Register.
The city hires Lisa McNeilly as its sustainability director. McNeilly will set the strategic direction for Scottsdale’s sustainability efforts, with a focus on protecting the city’s natural resources for future generations through the development of Scottsdale’s first sustainability plan. Most recently, she held a similar role in Baltimore, Maryland, leading its sustainability efforts and overseeing work on equitable climate action, floodplain management and community resiliency hubs. McNeilly holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University and bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. Learn more about McNeilly.
THINGS TO DO
The Scottsdale Philharmonic performs classical music at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The symphony orchestra’s concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 27. Buy tickets.
Big things are happening for small ones at the Exclusively Little Expo. This McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park event provides a one-stop-shop for families to find information about summer camps, school and education options, youth sports and recreation programs, indoor and outdoor activity opportunities, and a wide range of programs and services the city provides. The event takes place 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Train rides on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad and Charros Carousel are $3. Children 2 and younger ride free with a paying adult. Learn more.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts presents LIVE @Swap Meet. Join artist Brad Kahlhamer for a night of swap meet-style performances, ranging from music to spoken word. The program takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 1. A livestream option is available. Get tickets.
Scottsdale Community Historian Joan Fudala hosts “Hometown Happy Hour,” a new library programs focused on history, arts, architecture and the natural desert environment. Join us at 5 p.m. for a non-alcoholic “mocktail” and a light snack, then enjoy the program from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.:
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Water! Thursday, April 7: Explore Scottsdale's water history, from the development and use of the canals to today's reclamation and conservation innovations that are emulated by cities around the world.
Register by going to the library’s events calendar page and selecting the date for each program.
Find family-filled fun at Tents by the Tracks. Experience an adventurous evening while camping at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. We will offer a variety of activities suitable for all ages, including dinner, a movie, breakfast, and train and carousel rides. Hartley’s General Store will be open for ice cream and other treats. The event runs from 3 p.m.-10 a.m. April 9-10. Learn more and register.
Ongoing Events and Activities:
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce hosts Scottsdale Forward, annual economic development symposium. This event, held at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, features several guest speakers who will share timely, valuable information outlining where Scottsdale's economy is headed. The program runs from 7:30-9:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Cost is $30 for chamber members; $40 for nonmembers. Learn more and register.
Scottsdale continues fire/fuel mitigation projects as wildfire season approaches. The city continues to work with various agencies to reduce fire/fuels in strategically targeted areas to reduce the threat of wildfires and to provide defensible spaces that can slow its spread. Attention is being focused along roadway edges in and around the preserve, school trust lands and key alignments within the preserve that function as fuel breaks to stop or slow the forward movement of potential wildfires. Get details.
FYI
Loop 101 Pima Freeway construction affects Scottsdale traffic this weekend. The Arizona Department of Transportation is widening and improving Loop 101 from Interstate 17 in Phoenix to Pima Road in Scottsdale. To learn more about the project and upcoming traffic restrictions, visit the ADOT’s project webpage, where you can also subscribe to project alerts. Please note upcoming restrictions:
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The westbound Loop 101 between Hayden and Scottsdale roads will be narrowed to three lanes from 10 p.m. Friday, March 25, to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 27, for pavement maintenance.
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The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at Scottsdale Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, March 25, to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 27, for pavement maintenance.
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Southbound detour: Drivers can travel westbound on Mayo Boulevard then north on 64th Street to access the westbound Pima Freeway.
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Northbound detour: Drivers can travel westbound on Pinnacle Peak Road to southbound Tatum Boulevard, to access the westbound Pima Freeway.
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The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at Hayden Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, March 25, to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 27, for pavement maintenance.
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Southbound detour: Drivers can travel southbound on Hayden Road to westbound Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard/Bell Road, then north on 56th Street to access the westbound Pima Freeway.
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Northbound detour: Drivers can travel westbound on Pinnacle Peak Road to southbound Tatum Boulevard, to access the westbound Pima Freeway.
Find out about other traffic restrictions in and around Scottsdale. Get the list.
COVID-19 by the numbers. Maricopa County has been tracking COVID-19 cases since Jan. 22, 2020. Review the latest numbers.
