HEADLINE NEWS
The Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized Scottsdale General Plan 2035 as the “Best Regional or Comprehensive Plan” for 2022. City employees worked thousands of hours alongside residents creating the right plan for Scottsdale. Residents wanted a voice and insisted upon a plan that would benefit the entire community. Scottsdale General Plan 2035 was successful because we were able to create a robust process that provided transparency, valued input and delivered a vision that reflects the many facets of our vibrant city.
Scottsdale Salutes – a new city program will honor those in uniform. Scottsdale has launched a new program to publicly thank veterans and military service members in the community. Banners featuring them will fly from street light poles in Old Town during two weeks in November.
The city asks residents to nominate individuals now through Sept. 30. Veterans, active-duty service members, and members of the National Guard and reserves who live in Scottsdale, or who are from Scottsdale, are eligible for recognition. Submit a nomination. This program was requested by the Veterans Advisory Commission as part of its charge to celebrate veterans in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale libraries recognize “Banned Books Week,” Sept. 18-24. Launched in 1982, Banned Books Week draws attention to the harms of censorship and celebrates the value of free and open access to information. All Scottsdale library branches will display books that have been banned by various schools, libraries and bookstores. If you check out one of these books, be sure to request a sticker. Learn more at BannedBooksWeek.org.
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:
Scottsdale Public Art and the city are hosting a dedication for the latest addition to the city’s permanent collection, “Pinball Wizard.” Scottsdale Public Art worked with artist Annette Coleman to design and install mosaic artwork at the splash pad at Stetson Plaza. The dedication runs from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, 7120 E Stetson Drive. The public is invited to visit, enjoy the mosaic artwork and meet the artist.
Coleman’s “Pinball Wizard” includes a concrete wall and bench with 30 mosaic spheres and domes of various sizes, along with inset waves of vertical glass mosaic pieces. The artist’s glass is cut into random shapes and in a variety of colors that dance with light in any weather. The mosaic-stained glass pieces are embedded in colored concrete that is formulated to last decades.
Parks & Recreation will offer an exclusive “Taste of Fitness” at Scottsdale Sports Complex on Sept. 25. This free all-ages event runs from 8-11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, and provides an inside look at Scottsdale’s fitness scene. The event features a health and wellness expo, kids' zone, live DJ and fitness workshops led by industry experts. Whether you are a fitness guru or are just starting your wellness journey, our community resources and scenic views of the McDowell Mountains are sure to satisfy your mind, body and spirit! Learn more.
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Scottsdale ArtWalk: Internationally known as a mecca for art collectors, 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.
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Second Saturdays @SMoCA: Make contemporary art a family tradition. Solve a puzzle, create a wearable art pendant and explore the museum. Noon-3 p.m.
Bring holiday cheer to Scottsdale families. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2022 Adopt-a-Senior and Adopt-a-Family holiday programs. When you complete the donor form, you will be matched with a senior or family and provided a brief biography and wish list. Each year, these programs serve hundreds of families and seniors in need ... thanks to the generosity of the individuals, families and organizations who support the program.
Adaptive Services continues partnership with school district’s vocational training program. Scottsdale Unified School District’s Scottsdale Community Opportunity for Real-world Education (SCORE) program provides training and support to gain employment and develop independent living skills for students with intellectual disabilities ages 18-22. The city’s Adaptive Services Center hosts this group once a week throughout the school year to provide students and instructors access to our state-of-the-art kitchen, multi-sensory room and recreational space. During the 2021-22 school year, the SCORE program helped 14 students gain employment despite significant challenges related to the pandemic.
Neighborhood College registration is open for fall series. We offer three tracks: HOA, Good Neighbor and History. Register for one, some or all! Some presentations are offered in-person and online. Get class descriptions and other details.
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When Neighbors & Boards Collide - Using the Arizona Department of Real Estate's administrative hearing to resolve complaints: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road.
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Effective Board Meetings: 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road.
Veterans can make up to $150 a day working the polls. State and local officials are scrambling to staff polling sites with election volunteers. Major indicators are projecting a massive poll worker shortage for the 2022 midterms and beyond.
Aware of this potential crisis, the Vet the Vote campaign is seeking to recruit 100,000 Veterans and military family members to be poll workers in the 2022 midterms and other future elections. Vet the Vote is a coalition of 26 Veteran and military service organizations and four civic groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Football League (NFL). Sign up to be a poll worker.
More than 1 million volunteers are needed to run national elections. If only 10% of the 17 million American Veterans enlisted as poll workers, that would easily fill the void of any poll worker shortage.
Mayor David D. Ortega proclaims September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Scottsdale. Cancer continues to be the No. 1 cause of death by disease for children. Nearly, 16,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 20 percent will not survive. Increase awareness and raise funds for those affected by childhood cancer by wearing gold Wednesday, Sept. 21, to honor kids with cancer. Read the proclamation. Learn more.
Job of the Week: Adaptive Services Operations Supervisor. Scottsdale Adaptive Services coordinates programs and services designed to meet the needs of individuals of all ages who experience physical or intellectual disabilities. In March 2020 Adaptive Services suspended in-person programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The center is now open for in-person programming. With full services restored, the center is looking to add more recreation staff and hire an operations supervisor who is responsible for training and supervising staff, creating and monitoring budgets, building programs and activities, conducting accommodation assessments, ensuring ADA compliance for recreation programming, and forming partnerships with outside agencies and non-profits. It's a fun, challenging and rewarding opportunity. Learn more and apply.
