HEADLINE NEWS
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"Discussing Homelessness in Scottsdale" is the latest topic open for community input at Speak Up Scottsdale. Scottsdale's efforts to help those experiencing homelessness have been making headlines recently as the city continues a bridge housing program to help those in need - and the city wants to hear from residents and business owners about their experiences with homelessness.
A questionnaire, "Discussing Homelessness in Scottsdale," is live at SpeakUpScottsdale.com, an online community hosted by the city where people can participate in a variety of engagement activities. The questionnaire will be available for the next week, an open-ended discussion on the Speak Up Scottsdale platform will follow.
Scottsdale's Human Services staff will use the feedback as they continue working collaboratively with clients and partner agencies to address the needs of those experiencing street homelessness.
Smoky skies in Scottsdale as firefighters assisted Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community crews battling a landfill fire near the Beeline Highway and Gilbert Road. According to the Indian community, the fire has been suppressed with only minor smoldering remaining. It started accidently in the “green waste” section, where landscaping materials like wood, leaves and grass are held, on Saturday afternoon. As a precaution, the landfill remains closed. Maricopa County and state air quality agencies are not aware of any special air quality concerns. Get more air quality information. Call the community's non-emergency number at 480-850-9230 for more information about the fire status.
Donate items to help victims in recognition of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.
Right here at home, the city Prosecutor’s Office assisted 1,152 victims last fiscal year (July 2022-Jun 2023), with Victim Services providing 5,361 direct contacts during the same time. Assistance includes helping victims with orders of protection or injunctions against harassment, referring them to support services, escorting them to court, answering questions about the criminal justice process and advocating on their behalf.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Community Workshop Wednesday. The Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Department is working on a Master Plan, a long-range plan that identifies key initiatives, policies, and strategies to guide Scottsdale’s parks and recreation over the next decade. Your feedback will ensure future parks and recreation priorities and goals are citizen-driven and will meet the evolving demands of the community.
Attend the first of several workshops/outreach events to find out more and provide input. It runs from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Mountain View Community Center, 8625 E. Mountain View Road. Visit ShapeScottsdaleParks.com to learn more.
Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host. Here’s what’s coming up:
Get fresh, local produce and specialty items at Old Town Farmers Market. Find a variety of organic and pesticide-free produce, and seasonal specialties such as cider and apples, flowers, natural pork, beef, fish and free-range eggs. You'll also find cheese, freshly baked breads, jams, tamales and much more! The market runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through June at 3806 N. Brown Ave.
Scottsdale Stadium continues to host “fall ball” with the Scottsdale Scorpions. Operated by Major League Baseball, the Arizona Fall League emerged in 1992 to bring together top minor league prospects during the off-season. The championship game will be Saturday, Nov. 11, at Scottsdale Stadium. Get the schedule and learn how to buy tickets.
Calling all boys and ghouls – Halloween Spook-Track-Ula returns to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Stop by for a spell between 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 6-31, as we transform the park into a haunted hamlet. This family-friendly event is perfect for kids of all ages. We’ll “creep” it real with the featured event – a spooky train ride created with younger children in mind… a bit spooky, but not too scary. The event will feature limited capacity in 90-minute time blocks at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. nightly. Learn more and purchase tickets.
Seniors are invited to learn how to navigate new transportation routes. Senior Services teams with Transportation to host four free travel training workshops. Each tour runs about four hours. Learn more.
Plug into Saturday’s Electronics Recycling Day. Scottsdale residents can properly recycle electronics like computers, printers, phones, cameras, flat panel televisions/monitors and stereo equipment for free from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the city’s North Corporation Yard, 9191 N. San Salvador.
In the market for a job? Attend the Fall Career Fair. Meet local employers hiring for the season and beyond. The free event begins at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Vista del Camino, 7700 E. Roosevelt St. Employers from various industries will be onsite, ready to hire. Walk-ins are welcome but RSVPs are encouraged: [email protected]. Learn more. (pdf)
Get schooled at September Neighborhood College classes. Neighborhood College offers four tracks: HOA/Condo, Good Neighbor, Stories of Scottsdale History and Scottsdale 360, a virtual learning series that highlights the people, policies and programs that shape our community. Register for one class or all.
Good Neighbor Series:
- Top Ten Estate Planning Mistakes, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Community Design Studio. Are you among the many Americans who have put your estate planning on the back burner? Don’t delay, get this important information.
HOA/Condo Series:
- Conflicts of Interest and How to Avoid Them: 9-11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9, Community Design Studio. Discover the importance of having a clear understanding of what constitutes a conflict of interest, the problems they can create and how your association and board of directors should address/ avoid them.
- HOA/Condo Symposium, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Community Design Studio. Learn the right way to amend your CC&Rs, how to conduct fair and legal board elections, and what to do if your association is in crisis. Lunch will be provided.
Scottsdale 360 Series:
- Pinnacle Peak History, 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 19, virtual. From geology to golf, the greater Pinnacle Peak area has something for every interest. Register to get the link to participate.
Stories of Scottsdale History Series:
- Scoundrels, Rascals & Cutthroats, 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, Holland Center. Hear about the stories of famous and infamous crimes that happened in Scottsdale. You’ll learn more … like how the mail was first brought from Phoenix to Scottsdale, why an Arizona high school has a unique mascot and what investigative tools were available to the police at various times.
You won’t lose with GAIN – Getting Arizona Involved with Neighborhoods. Formerly known as National Night Out, GAIN encourages residents to get together in their respective communities to promote safety and neighborhood communication and celebrate the successes of crime prevention through community involvement. GAIN 2023 takes place Saturday, Oct. 14. Register your neighborhood no later than Monday, Oct. 3, if you’re planning to host a block party that day or evening.
Join your friends and family for the fall 2023 Adopt-a-Road citywide cleanup. Be one of the more than 200 groups cleaning more than 220 Scottsdale roadways Saturday, Oct. 28. The event is held in conjunction with National Make a Difference Day. Register your group and get details.
Kids 7-11 can show off their art ability for the “Design a Library Card” contest. One winning design will be chosen as a limited-edition library card design. Drop off your masterpiece to any library branch or email a digital file to [email protected] by Saturday, Oct. 21.
The city is replacing the Historic Old Town Streetlights through Nov. 22, along Scottsdale Road, from Second Street to Indian School Road. This improvement project includes preparing for and setting the new light poles and foundations as well as removing existing poles. The work will be completed in staggered phases to minimize the impact. Drivers and visitors can expect limited lanes, and parking and sidewalk closures on a block-by-block basis. Visit the project website for details.
Scottsdale City Councill approves Western Spirit expansion. The Scottsdale City Council unanimously approved expanding Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. The expansion site currently contains a valuable cactus garden display and stacked slate stones, the materials will be relocated to a new cactus garden display within the property. A private citizen donated money to fund the $12 million improvements. Construction is expected to take two years. The museum is owned by the city and operated by the nonprofit “Scottsdale Museum of the West.” Learn more about the museum.
Mark your calendar: Celebrate Vista del Camino’s 50th anniversary! Enjoy yard games, a DJ, food trucks, vendors, Yaqui history and more. The Vista del Camino Food Bank will also be accepting non-perishable donations throughout the event. The celebration runs 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7700 E. Roosevelt St.
The U.S. government will once again offer free COVID-19 test kits. Order your free tests at covid.gov/tests. Additionally, the expiration dates of many home COVID-19 tests have been extended well beyond what’s printed on the package. The latest distribution is intended for use through the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates.
Job of the Week: ADA/Title VI Coordinator: This position is housed in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and serves as the city’s liaison for public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Responsibilities include tracking and resolving complaints; serving as a consultant, technical resource and the main point of contact to city divisions for ADA compliance; and will have oversight of the citywide ADA Transition Plan. Benefits include 12 paid holidays; sick leave; medical, dental and vision benefits; tuition reimbursement; participation in Arizona State Retirement System; and more. Learn more and apply.
