HEADLINE NEWS
Scottsdale City Council will consider an agreement to provide water for the Rio Verde Foothills Standpipe District. As part of its continuing leadership role in addressing the lack of a sustainable water supply for Maricopa County residents in the Rio Verde Foothills area, the Scottsdale City Council will consider an intergovernmental agreement at tonight’s meeting (Sept. 5).
The proposed agreement is with the Rio Verde Foothills Standpipe District, an entity created by Arizona Senate Bill 1432, which became law in June. Scottsdale's own water resources will not be used, and the rate charged to the standpipe district is set so that costs are fully recovered on behalf of the Scottsdale residents who pay for the infrastructure and operation of the city's water system. Learn more about the agreement.
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. You can livestream the meeting or watch it on Scottsdale Video Network (Cox channel 11).
Investing in Our Scottsdale: Paiute Neighborhood Center. Learn about two projects at one of two information meetings Wednesday, Sept. 6: 9 a.m. at the Paiute Neighborhood Center; or 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Library Auditorium.
The first project will replace aging structures that comprise office space where staff serves the community with a new 22,700 square foot building. Voters approved the project as part of the 2019 bond election. The second project would add up to 28 affordable housing units to the Paiute Campus. The projects will be designed and built together. There will be multiple opportunities for public involvement throughout the design and public hearing process.
The center opened in 1995 to fulfill a need for community programs and social services. 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:
Try a new dining spot … or hit up an old favorite for Arizona Restaurant Week, Sept. 8-17. Arizona Restaurant Week showcases local chefs and their culinary achievements with special menus and dining experiences at participating restaurants. Support your favorite Scottsdale restaurant! Each eatery features a three-course, prix-fixe menu, along with their regular menu items.
Learn about local architecture at Hometown Happy Hour. Join us for a roundtable discussion on local architecture featuring architects Douglas Sydnor and Ned Sawyer. Community historian Joan Fudala moderates. The free program begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, Civic Center Library. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
Saddle up for the Arabian National Breeder finals, Sept. 13-16, at WestWorld. This prestigious show presents an unprecedented halter/breeding showcase opportunity that offers prize money and marketing opportunities for breeders and purebred Arabian horse enthusiasts. The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona is the most established and successful breed organization in the state with more than 66 years of experience in marketing and promoting the Arabian horse.
The city’s first ever StoryWalk® is now open. This is a fun and educational way for people of all ages to combine books with physical activity. StoryWalk® (pdf) is available at Rio Montana Park and presented by Scottsdale Public Library in collaboration with Scottsdale Parks and Recreation.
Protect your identity by bringing your documents to the shredding event. It runs from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, in the Walmart parking lot, 15355 N. Northsight Blvd. Cost is $5 per box. Learn more.
Honor those in uniform by nominating them for the Scottsdale Salutes program. In November, the city will publicly thank veterans and military service members in the community by featuring them on light pole banners in Old Town. Veterans, active-duty service members, and members of the National Guard and reserves who live in Scottsdale, or are from Scottsdale, are eligible for recognition.
Submit nominations at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “Scottsdale Salutes,” by Friday, Sept. 22. Those selected also will be honored at a community reception in November. The Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission, seven City-Council appointed residents who advise on veterans’ issues and to raise awareness of and honor veterans in the community, initiated the program.
Attend the Mental Health Matters Conference and learn how you can better support youth. This free conference offers information and resources available to support youth as it relates to mental health, substance abuse, eating disorders and LGBTQIA+. It will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at SkySong. Former news anchor Brandon Lee will be the keynote speaker. He is the founder and chief operating officer of Art Of Our Soul, an art healing program for trauma survivors. Learn more.
Human Services team helps get resident back on track. Recently, a single mother came to the Paiute Neighborhood Center for assistance after losing her job due to poor eyesight. The Human Services team connected this individual to proper resources to get her back on track. She received a food box courtesy of the Vista del Camino Food Bank – while Partners for Paiute and Our Lady of Perpetual Help helped pay her rent and connected her with a local eye specialist. When she found out she needed eye surgery for cataracts, the church helped once again by generously paying for her surgery expenses. She recently had a successful surgery and is on the road to recovery. She is incredibly thankful for the support from the community and plans to be self-sufficient soon. If you or someone you know needs help, visit the Human Services website.
Get carded … at Scottsdale Public Library. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and libraries around the nation want to remind everyone that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning. Share the love by encouraging your friends, family and neighbors to get a card today. We’ll host a celebration for library card holders in November … details coming in October.
Tickets for McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s Halloween Spook-track-ula are on sale. Stop in for a spell as the Paradise & Pacific Railroad transforms into a haunted park of fun for this family-friendly event, Oct. 6–31. Tickets must be purchased in advance for one of two nightly time blocks: 6 or 8 p.m. The cost is $15 per ticket, with limited $10 discount tickets available for the 8 p.m. time block.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. After declining in 2019 and 2020, suicide deaths increased approximately 5% in the United States in 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s provisional estimates indicate that suicide deaths further increased in 2022, rising from 48,183 in 2021 to an estimated 49,449 deaths in 2022, an increase of approximately 2.6%.
We can all help prevent suicide. Every year, mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis and mental health support.
Have you seen driverless cars on Scottsdale streets? Learn more about Waymo’s autonomous driving technology. Attend a free virtual presentation at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Waymo's mission is to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. It believes this technology has the potential to save lives, increase independence and improve mobility access. The service can be accessed throughout 225 square miles of the Valley, including parts of Scottsdale. Register.
Avoid collisions with wildlife. Wild animals are forced to cross roads and highways in search of food, water, cover and mates. Each year, there are about 1.5 million vehicle collisions nationwide with just deer alone. Follow these tips:
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Slow down.
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Follow speed limits.
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Watch for wildlife in and near the road at dawn, dusk and in the first few hours after darkness.
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Be especially cautious on two-lane roads bordered by woods or fields, or where streams cross under roads.
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Scan the road as you drive, watching the edges for wildlife about to cross.
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Don’t throw trash out car windows. Discarded food attracts wildlife.
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Use your high beams whenever possible.
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Lower your dashboard lights slightly. You'll be more likely to see your headlights reflected in the eyes of animals in time to brake.
Job of the Week: WestWorld General Manager. The successful candidate will develop WestWorld's five-year strategic plan, coordinate the current WestWorld master planning process and oversee a variety of capital and infrastructure projects. The general manager works closely with local, regional and national event producers; partners with Scottsdale's Tourism & Events Department and Experience Scottsdale; negotiates and administers contracts; coordinates marketing, branding and sponsorship activities; and provides ongoing leadership and development opportunities. 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.
