Friends of the Scenic Drive is conducting a fund raiser to replace damaged and missing plant identification signs, purchase litter pickup sticks used by volunteers during roadside cleanups, and for Scenic Drive Web site expenses. The goal is to raise $1,650 with 22 donors contributing $75 each. Contributors will be recognized on a special recognition page in the May-June issue of A Peek at the Peak magazine. To donate or obtain additional information, call (480) 361-6498 or read Special Scenic Drive Fund Raiser Information. Posted: Feb. 17, 2012.

Pondering how you'll vote in the City of Scottsdale's March 13th Special Election. This guide is for you. You'll find a recent city announcement about the election and information from the pamphlet mailed to residents by the city. We included all the pros and cons for each ballot measure. Next you'll find a recommendaton for each ballot measure. Read Special Election Guide Posted: Feb. 17, 2012.

Photos, Here & There

By Our Readers

          We live in a beautiful place, filled with interesting sites and scenes. The Peak receives many wonderful photographs taken by our readers and we'd like to share a few of them with you. Don't be shy. Send us your favorite photos of our area. You never know, they might be showcased in one of GPPA's publications. Posted: Jan. 16, 2012.

View Photographs

A free "Reader/Shopper" digital edition of The Peak magazine, featuring clickable advertisements, is now available.  The new digital edition not only provides print advertisers with unlimited exposure on the Web, it features clickable advertisements that enable readers to instantly take action and learn more about a product or service, even  contact the advertiser through the advertiser's Web site.  Also, readers can instantly obtain the latest information about upcoming community events, and more. Try Reader/Shopper Digital Edition Posted: March 2011
 

The print edition of The Peak magazine now includes QR codes that enable smart phone users to quickly learn more about The Peak and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, access our extensive community events calendar, and visit advertiser Web sites, just by picking up their smart phone and scanning the code.  If you haven't used 2D bar code technology, here's how to get started: 1) On your iPhone, download the application called Quickmark (for a Droid smart phone, download ScanLife), Launch this application and position the barcode within the viewfinder on your phone - it automatically connects you to this Web site. Using their smartphones, readers of The Peak can access this Web site's extensive events section. advertiser marketplace, and obtain advertising information.

Advertisers can include their own QR codes as part of their advertisements. For additional information, contact The Peak. Posted: June 16, 2003.

Scottsdale Library's new "Gimme Engine" is the best way to find the book you want to read next . . .using your phone! The American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy and the Library Information Technology Association recently honored the Scottsdale Library for providing this cutting edge technology for customers. The library was one of just four recognized nationally for technological advances. From a smart phone or computer, customers can visit http://gimme.scottsdalelibrary.org and receive a book recommendation based on a category they select. For example, customers can select "Gimme something good to eat" and they will receive a recommendation for a cookbook, complete with a review from a library staff member, book information and a quick link to reserve the book. Gimme! also integrates with customers' Goodreads account, a social media site that allows users to share and rate books they have read with one another. Posted: February, 2012.

April is Water Awareness Month. Celebrate Water Awareness month by learning how to save water both indoors and outdoors. Stop by Scottsdale’s Xeriscape Garden at Chaparral Park to see beautiful examples of colorful, low-water use desert plants that thrive in our desert environment. You can also request free brochures on landscaping, plant selection and rainwater harvesting.
Plus find great tools in our “educational toolbox” for children, parents and teachers. Visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Water/Conservation or call 480-312-5650 for more details. Posted: February, 2012.

The Scottsdale Fire Department is looking for volunteers to teach safety to preschool and elementary age children, make deliveries to our fire stations, answer phones and schedule activities. Please contact Patty Jo Angelini at (480) 312-1815 or v

isit the department’s volunteer webpage at www.scottsdalefd.com. Posted: February, 2012

Help prevent drowning – Sign up for the Scottsdale Fire Department’s free Water Safety Survey. Every year, there are at least 100 water-related incidents in Maricopa County alone. Both adults and children are at risk for this preventable injury. The good news is we can prevent drowning. Sign up for a Water Safety Survey with the Scottsdale Fire Department to help identify your water hazards and discuss how to reduce the drowning risks at your home. For more information, contact Lori Schmidt at (480) 312-1817 or visit www.scottsdalefd.com. Posted: February, 2012.

Recycling benefits us all by preserving landfill space and by recovering and reusing non-renewable resources – and it also makes economic sense. By participating in Scottsdale's Curbside Recycling Program, residents can lower the city's cost of providing residential solid waste services. Lower costs mean lower service fees to residents. Since its inception in 1996, the recycling program has diverted more than 395,199 tons of material from the landfill. The cumulative savings to our residential customers through the sale of recyclables and the avoided cost of discarding this material is $15.2 million. To learn more about the curbside recycling program, contact Solid Waste Management at (480) 312-5600 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle. Posted: February, 2012.

Caution! Desert wildlife like our springtime weather, too! That means sometimes urban animals such as bobcats, coyotes, javelina, raccoons and skunks can be seen in neighborhoods. Neither the city nor the Arizona Game & Fish Department trap or relocate wildlife under normal circumstances. But you can help to discourage urban wildlife from living in your area by removing essentials of wildlife habitat such as water, food and shelter. Learn more by visiting www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife or www.scottsdaleaz.gov/health/coyote. Posted: February, 2012.

Did you know that one-third of all senior adults fall every year? Most incidents occur where they feel the safest—at home. The Scottsdale Fire Department offers free “Home Safe Home” visits. Trained volunteers will check for tripping and falling hazards, install a free smoke alarm and give out free nightlights. Call (480) 312-1815 for more information or to make an appointment. Posted: February, 2012.

The San Francisco Giants will play 33 games in Arizona this spring, with the first against the Colorado Rockies on March 3 at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants, who have trained in Scottsdale since 1982, will embark on their 30th spring training season at Scottsdale Stadium. Last year, the team's overall attendance ranked second in the Cactus League, just behind the Arizona Diamondbacks. For the complete schedule, visit www.sfgiants.com. Posted November 20, 2011.

Mexican authorities released five Mexican wolves in the San Luis Mountains in Sonora, Mexico, on Oct. 12, 2011, approximately 80 miles south of Douglas, Ariz. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been actively involved in the multi-agency effort to reintroduce Mexican wolves to portions of their historic range in the east-central portion of Arizona (and adjacent New Mexico) for many years. In 1998, 11 captive-reared Mexican wolves were released into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) in eastern Arizona. The current population in Arizona-New Mexico was assessed to be approximately 50 animals during 2011 monitoring. The Mexican wolf is considered endangered in the United States and Mexico. Game and Fish continues to express concern over the lack of progress in aspects of wolf conservation. Posted November 20, 2011.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated flood insurance rate maps and owners and tenants of property preliminarily identified as lying in “special flood hazard areas” can appeal the accuracy of the data used for the designation. The data determines whether owners will be required to purchase flood insurance. The proposed new flood insurance rate maps identify about 700 properties north of Lone Mountain Road that are located within a special flood hazard area. Because of this new designation, affected property owners will be required to purchase flood insurance if they have a federally-backed mortgage.

Owners and tenants of affected properties wanting to appeal the proposed base flood elevations can do so until Jan. 18, 2012. The City of Scottsdale is mailing postcards to newly-affected property owners and tenants advising them of the appeals process. Posted November 20, 2011.

The City of Scottsdale offers a variety of sources that provide information about the city, its operations, and events.

• Scottsdale Update -  a weekly e-newsletter chock-full of Scottsdale info and events. Subscribe and you will automatically receive this publication each Thursday:  https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/listserve. 

• City of Scottsdale website – From news stories and official meeting minutes to localized information about neighborhoods, the city’s website offers a wealth of valuable information about the community. Check it out at www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov.
•  Channel 11 news channels:  All the city of Scottsdale videos in one accessible site. You can watch CityCable Channel 11 via cable television or the city’s website. You can also select specific programs, meetings, forums and features to replay at your convenience at this website: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/citycable11/channels.
•  Nixle – The Scottsdale Police and Fire departments use Nixle to keep citizens informed of important crime, traffic and safety information. Alerts go to cell phone or email. To sign up, visit: http://local.nixle.com/city/az/scottsdale.
•  Facebook – Connect with the city on Facebook to get up-to-the-minute news and information on city projects, programs and services:

http://www.facebook.com/scottsdaleazgov.

• Twitter – Get brief news items delivered directly to your computer or mobile phone. Sign up for city “tweets” at http://www.twitter.com/scottsdaleazgov.
•  YouTube – Scottsdale has its own YouTube channel. You can check out all the videos posted there by visiting  http://www.youtube.com/scottsdaleazgov.