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Tidbits of Good Stuff, Breaking News

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The "good stuff"  below includes announcements made by causes supported by The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), local nonprofits, and businesses that support The Peak, GPPA, and/or Friends of the Scenic Drive.  The Peak and this Web site are published as a community service by  GPPA. For additional announcements, don't miss the events section of this Web site.  To ensure you never miss an important date, download our free monthly calendar to use as wallpaper for your computer's display, and read The Peak online, now!

 

  

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      Convenient, free home e-delivery of The Peak magazine's is now available. Subscribe to GPPA's monthly e-Peak  Newsletter and you'll automatically receive e-mail notification when each bi-monthly issue of our magazine is available online and on stands.

     The availability of the online version has dramatically increased the distribution of the magazine. Readers need only visit this Web site to read the latest edition of the magazine. One reader commented that "I like the way you can flip through the pages" just like a printed magazine. A north Scottsdale reader says that "now it's easy to "send" The Peak to my friends in Boston. I gave them a subscription to the newsletter and they also get The Peak e-delivered." Les Conklin, The Peak's editor said, "I like the online version because it dramatically expands the exposure of advertisements, and that means unmatched value for advertisers.

     The print edition is still available at all its normal distribution points. Friends of the Community continue to receive the print version in the mail. GPPA continues to distribute its monthly e-Peak Newsletter. Click on this link to read the current issue online. Posted: June 17, 2009.
        GPPA Increases Print Distribution  of The Peak. GPPA thanks the many local businesses that volunteer as distribution points for A Peek a the Peak (The Peak) magazine. We're pleased to announce that we have expanded The Peak's distribution area, making printed copies of The Peak available to residents living in the more densely populated parts of north Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix.

      With these additional pickup locations, The Peak magazine is now available at more than 75 locations from Shea Boulevard in the south to Cave Creek Road in the north, and from Cave Creek Road in the west to Rio Verde in the east. We've expanded the distribution of The Peak to increase the exposure of advertisers, editorial contributors, Friends of the Scenic Drive, GPPA, and the nonprofits we support.

       The new locations include Sam's Club on Northsight Boulevard, Big Lots on 90th Street, Smart & Final at Thunderbird and Scottsdale Roads, and Safeway Stores on Shea Boulevard, N. Frank Lloyd Wright, E. Greenway Parkway, E. Villa Linda, and N. Cave Creek Road. You'll also find this magazine at Whole Foods on E. Mayo Blvd. in Phoenix and on E. Raintree Drive in Scottsdale. You will find a complete list of locations where you can pickup The Peak in our advertising kit.

       The online edition of The Peak is available to anybody, anywhere, anytime. Using your browser and mouse, you can flip through pages and zoom in on advertisements and articles that interest you. If the advertiser has a Web site, you can use the hot link in our online Marketplace to visit and obtain more information.

        If your business, organization, or HOA is interested in making The Peak available without charge to your customers or members, call The Peak at (480) 361-6498. Posted: January 9, 2010.  

      Judge for yourself. The Peak will  post ALL the entries from its 2010 Summer Fun Photography Contest on its new SmugMug Web site. See if you can select the entries that were chosen by the judges. Winners will be recognized in the September/October issue of The Peak.
      Using the Images From The Peak service, you can select photos, print them in various sizes and on mugs, t-shirts, postcards, and more. Order processing, payment, customer service, and shipping are all handled by Smug Mug, a quality photographic processor. To learn more and enjoy some fantastic photographs taken by Desert Foothills and Pinnacle Peak residents, see Images From The Peak.
     The Desert Foothills Land Trust has received a $22,000 grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to allow them to enhance their volunteer and land stewardship programs. The grant was made as part of the Charitable Trust’s total award of $1.75 million to 28 organizations in Arizona on July 14. “This grant offers an opportunity for the Land Trust to better engage our community in direct land conservation work, at the same time we increase our capacity for land stewardship and other programs. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust’s support of our work will allow us to capitalize on this opportunity, and we are tremendously grateful for their investment with us,” said Land Trust executive director Sonia Perillo.
     Desert Foothills Land Trust will work to recruit and train volunteers in the North Valley communities it serves, including Carefree, Cave Creek, North Phoenix, North Scottsdale and Anthem. Many of these volunteers will help the Land Trust with land stewardship and management on its 600-acre system of nature preserves.

     Those interested in volunteering can contact the Land Trust to sign up for their training program at 480/488-6131 or visit their website at www.dflt.org for more information.
Cave Creek Unified School District: "Welcome Back." The start date for students is Monday, August 9th. Read the Superintendent's Welcome Back letter to employees and parents. Read Letter. 
Arizona Game and Fish Department's New Wind and Solar Guidelines to Help Wildlife. The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently announced the availability of newly-developed wind and solar power guidelines aimed at helping alternative energy developers consider wildlife conservation in their project planning. The new guidelines will assist energy developers in identifying potential impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitats from their proposed project development and potential alternatives to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate for these negative impacts.

“Game and Fish recognizes the importance of renewable energy and supports the development of these facilities in Arizona,” says Game and Fish’s Habitat Branch Chief, Josh Avey. “However, as the department tasked with managing and conserving the public’s wildlife resources, it was important that we prepare these recommended guidelines to help developers consider and minimize their project’s impacts to wildlife during the early planning phase.”

The solar guidelines are organized around five of the key development stages: 1) wildlife protection regulations, 2) Arizona Game and Fish Department regulations and review, 3) gathering preliminary information and conducting site screening, 4) identifying potential impacts to wildlife, and 5) mitigating the impacts.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of species extinctions. The department is working to protect interconnected networks of large natural areas in Arizona that support viable populations of wildlife, while providing ample opportunity for people to enjoy and benefit from the presence of wildlife.

To view these and other development-related guidelines, visit www.azgfd.gov/hgis/guidelines.aspx
Scottsdale Ranks in Top 10 "Best Cities for Families." Parenting Magazine recently ranked Scottsdale No. 8 among its top 50 “Best Cities for Families.” The magazine rated cities based on the community’s health, safety, education, economy and recreation. Scottsdale was rated No. 1 in the nation for safety and No. 3 for recreation. Parenting chose the cities by conducting a nationwide survey of women from the magazine’s MomConnection research panel to pinpoint their top criteria in choosing a place to raise their families. For more information about the Parenting Magazine rankings, visit the magazine’s Web site at: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/Mom/Best-Cities-2010-Top-50-Cities/9/.
CNN Money Ranks Scottsdale Among Best Places to Live. Scottsdale received additional national recognition recently when CNN Money ranked Scottsdale No. 71 on its "100 Best Places to Live." The magazine had this to say about Scottsdale. "Known for its zillions of golf courses (it's a stop on the PGA tour), upscale shopping, top-notch restaurants, and resort spas, Scottsdale has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike. Its hot, dry climate and proximity to the Sonoran Desert and McDowell Mountains make for terrific hiking; aging snowbirds flock here each winter. And its proximity to Phoenix means plenty of culture and a variety of jobs. . ." For more information, go to http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2718116.html
Mayor's Youth Council Deadline is August 31. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who live in or attend school in Scottsdale and are interested in learning about local government are encouraged to apply for the Mayor's Youth Council. Those who are accepted will learn about local government, how it provides services to citizens and have the opportunity to represent the best in Scottsdale's youth at a variety of city sponsored events. In addition, those who are accepted will have an opportunity to share ideas and opinions with city leaders. Call (480) 312-7922 to get started. The application deadline is Aug. 31.
CityCable 11 Wants Your Feedback. CityCable 11 is interested in learning more about your viewing habits, what you like and what you'd like to see more of on the channel. Access the survey at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/citycable11/channels, then click on "take our viewer survey" on the right hand side of the page. For more information, call (480) 312-7948.
Scottsdale Library Newsletter. The library's newsletter is jam-packed with information about programs and other reading-related opportunities that the entire family can enjoy. Sign-up for a library card and you'll also receive an newsletter, like this, every month. Newsletter, July Issue.
Scottsdale Planning Commission Meeting Update, June 24, 2010. The commission voted 3-3 on the text amendment, which means that the case is passed on to the city council with a "denied" status. While the commission disagreed on the text amendment process, they did favor the use (assisted living facility). Many residents pposed the project either in writing or by speaking at the meeting. No residents spoke in favor of the case at the meeting, despite staff's recommending approval. The next step is for the Scottsdale City Council to hear the case. No date has been set.

About the Case

The City of Scottsdale Planning Commission acts as an advisory board to the Scottsdale City Council. The commission is considering a request for a text amendment in the city's zoning ordinance to allow for a high density health care facilities in residentially zoned areas. The applicant's proposed facility will be located on the SW corner of Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain Road. The applicant previously requested a change to the Scottsdale General Plan but withdrew the application. There was widespread opposition to the requested change on the part of north Scottsdale residents.

Additional Reading
GPPA's letter of opposition (PDF)
Winfield Owners Community Association's letter of opposition (PDF)
City of Scottsdale's case fact sheet, staff report, and the applicant's submission
https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/eservices/cases/casesheet.aspx?caseid=37491
Meeting Information

The planning commission meeting will be held on the above date and time at the City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale. The city recommends calling (480) 312-7000 the day before the meeting to confirm the meetings date and time.

 
Threat to North Scottsdale's Sonoran Desert Character. GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive urges concerned residents to attend the Wednesday, June 23rd meeting of the City of Scottsdale Planning Commission and voice their opposition to Case 5-TA-2009

About the Case

The City of Scottsdale Planning Commission acts as an advisory board to the Scottsdale City Council. The commission is considering a request for a text amendment in the city's zoning ordinance to allow for a high density health care facilities in residentially zoned areas. The applicant's proposed facility will be located on the SW corner of Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain Road. The applicant previously requested a change to the Scottsdale General Plan but withdrew the application. There was widespread opposition to the requested change on the part of north Scottsdale residents.

Additional Reading

Meeting Information

The planning commission meeting will be held on the above date and time at the City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale. The city recommends calling (480) 312-7000 the day before the meeting to confirm the meetings date and time.

 Political Sign Problem. North Scottsdale resident Chris Baker writes, "As a longtime resident of north Scottsdale, I have always been impressed and thankful for the work done to keep political signs off of the scenic drives of both Pima and Scottsdale Rds. Getting politicians to agree upon anything is quite the accomplishment and one that has been beneficial to protecting what I believe most of us think is some of the most pristine and beautiful desert in the world. Thus, I was somewhat surprised this morning to see political signs from a Jim Ward on both Scottsdale and Pima Rds. in the area of Pima and Westland and Tom Darlington and Carefree hwy.

Les Conklin, Greater Pinnacle Peak Association - Friends of the Scenic Drive, responds. "When candidates apply for a sign permit, the city has always informed them about the voluntary ban. We will check to see if this is something the city is now doing. None-the-less, for about 15 years our volunteers have contacted offenders and requested that the signs be taken down and we will continue to do that (it's not as easy as you think to track down the right people and we could use help from residents ). If candidates don't respect the Pima and Scottsdale scenic corridors, we suggest you vote your displeasure.

Memorial services for Councilman Tony Nelssen began at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, at WestWorld’s Equidome, 16601 N. Pima Road. Councilman Nelssen passed away May 26 at his home after battling cancer. The program included the reading of a poem written by Bob Frost, a former city employee and Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Eulogies were given by Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane, Councilman Bob Littlefield, family friends Amy Ganley and John Washington, and Nelssen’s children, Hannah and Ian.

Councilman Nelssen, who served on GPPA's board and The Peak's editorial staff, began his service on the Scottsdale City Council in June 2006. He was active in civic affairs for more than two decades prior, serving on a variety of city commissions and advisory groups, as well as neighborhood and civic associations.

In lieu of flowers, the Nelssen family has asked that donations be made in Tony Nelssen's name to any of the following: 1) Scottsdale Police Department's Mounted Unit. Donations may be made payable to the SPD Mounted Unit, and mailed to Police Headquarters at 8401 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251, 2) Friends of Pinnacle Peak Park, www.pinnaclepeakpark.com/foppp.asp, 3) Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, www.gppaaz.org/friends_donations.htm.
Foothills Animal Rescue (FAR), which is committed to compassionate and humane treatment of dogs and cats in need through rescue, shelter, fostering, and adoption within Maricopa County, plans to open a new cage facility in mid-June at 23030 North Pima Road Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Executive Director Dawn Kavanaugh says "FAR is seeking volunteers that can commit to working at least one shift per week in the office or with the animals. Our hours will be: Monday- closed, Tuesday- 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday- Friday- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday- 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday- 12 p.m. - 4 p.m." FAR's Animal Rescue Resale Boutique is now open at 23030 North Pima Road, Scottsdale. Shop guilt free and know that your purchase will save the lives of countless animals in need!
 
       GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive submitted a  letter on March 16th to the City of Scottsdale opposing the use of the text amendment process for high-density specialized health care building on Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Read Letter (PDF). After attending the City of Scottsdale open house for the project, an additional letter was submitted. Read Letter (PDF)Also read COPP Opposes Text Amendment Case, and Help Block the End Run. Posted: March 18, 2010.
     The City of Scottsdale's Mediation Program can help residents solve neighborhood issues, providing a way for community members to resolve conflicts themselves, in a peaceful and civil manner. Assisted by a skilled mediator, people are able to talk to each other in order to seek a mutually satisfactory solution. The mediator will not make decisions, but will guide the disputing neighbors toward a resolution. The process is free, private and voluntary. If you have an issue with your neighbor that you would like to resolve, call (480) 312-2342 or access a mediation request form at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/departments/CNR/Mediation_Program.asp.
     Scottsdale Leisure Education registration begins on May 5th. Choose your passion or find a new one! Registration for the Leisure Education classes, programs and activities begins at 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, for Scottsdale residents. If you’re looking to get fit, learn something new or pick up a new hobby there are plenty of opportunities. Go online now to see the choices at http://Recreation.ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Questions? Call the Parks & Recreation Leisure Education Office at (480) 312-7957.
      Scottsdale residents can recycle unwanted electronics from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the city's Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador. Items accepted include computer, office and entertainment equipment. For a complete list of acceptable items, visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle or call (480) 312- 5600.
     The Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine recently named Appaloosa Library the winner of its Most Sustainable Project award. The 21,500-square-foot full service Scottsdale branch library features a teen center, early learning and story room, a café/newsroom, quiet lounge and study rooms.
      The library is designed to merit a LEED Gold rating with the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a national standard for "green" buildings that use environmental techniques to conserve materials and resources, and reduce energy consumption while contributing to the health of its occupants. Environmentally-friendly features include low-water-use fixtures and the use of photovoltaic cells to provide some of the building's electricity. For more information on the Appaloosa Library, visit http://library.scottsdaleaz.gov/main/appaloosa_facts.cfm
     The City of Scottsdale warns of fire danger. As the temperatures heat up, the desert grasses that grew with spring rains dry out, creating a fire danger. Protect your home from wild land fires by creating a 30-foot defensible space around your home. Remove perennial grasses and thin overgrown bushes. Remove dead branches from living trees and all dead vegetation from the ground. Lastly, keep a rolled up garden hose with a nozzle attached to an outside hose valve connection. For more fire prevention information, visit www.ScottsdaleFD.com.
 
      The Scottsdale Fire Department warns residents to watch children around water. It’s warming up. But no matter the weather, children are drawn to water. Install multiple layers of protection between your home and pool such as a pool fence with self-closing, self -latching gates, and door alarms that sound when opened from the inside. Secure all doors, ates and pet doors that lead to the pool area. Teach children to swim. Keep toys and objects away from the pool and spa areas. Secure spas with childproof covers. And keep a phone by the pool to call 911 in case of an emergency. And . . . watch children around water. . . every second. Visit www.ScottsdaleFD.com for more water safety information. Sco
       COPP Opposes Text Amendment Case, Read Newsletter. In the March, 2010 edition of COPP News, the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak asks residents to attend the March 16th open house and voice their opposition to the use of the text amendment process to obtain approval of a high-density  specialized health care facility at the corner of Lone Mountain Road and Scottsdale Road. Read COPP News (PDF).  Also read Help Block the End Run. Updated: March 10, 2010.
       Help Block the End Run. The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association - Friends of the Scenic Drive urges you to attend the March 16th City of Scottsdale open house and join us and other residents in opposing the new and novel application for a text amendment for a high-density health care facility on the southwest corner of E. Lone Mountain Road. The open house is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Arabian Library, 10215 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. The entrance to the library is south and east of the intersection of Thompson Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. There is no formal agenda, so you need not arrive at 5:30 p.m.
        To understand why your support is vital, preview "Government 101" by Howard Myers from the April issue of The Peak magazine. Howard explains the dangers of using a text amendment to change zoning.  Howard's article provides contact information for members of the Scottsdale City Council and Planning Commission. Also review, General Plan End Run Continues and Friends of the Scenic Drive Opposes ... Application. Updated: March 10, 2010.
       Terravita Golf Club, an award-winning private, member-owned and operated 18-hole golf course located in north Scottsdale, raised more than $5,700 for Arnie’s Army Battles Prostate Cancer at the opening day event late last year. The TMGA annually participates in the nationwide fundraising effort. The event was led by member Don Winterhalter, who was assisted by George Tyson and Jim Buckalew. “We have a very high member participation rate each year,” said Terravita Director of Golf Steve Mallory. “The money was raised through a voluntary event entry fee and by hosting hole-in-one and closest-to-the-pin contests during the TMGA opening event.” Terravita has contributed more than $24,000 to Arnie’s Army during the past five years. Posted: March 9, 2010.
       Arizona Game & Fish has announced that three California condors have recently diedfrom the biggest challenge to the species’ recovery. The condors, including a female and her chick from the previous year, were recovered by The Peregrine Fund. Testing confirmed the presence of lead fragments in the digestive tracts of all three birds. Lead shuts down the condors’ digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness, and death. In recent years, radio tracking data has identified increased use of southern Utah as a major foraging area for the flock. To aid condor conservation, the Arizona Game & Fish Department started a non-lead ammunition outreach program in 2003 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. Surveys show that 85 percent of hunters took voluntary measures in 2009 to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the condors’ core range. Now, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is implementing a similar program for hunters on the Zion unit in southwestern Utah.
       Did you know that in 1982, there were only 22 surviving California condors? Captive breeding programs were established in the 1980s, and California condors now live in the wild in Arizona, Utah, California, and Mexico. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan up to 9½ feet. Prior to reintroduction, the last wild condor in Arizona was sighted just south of the Grand Canyon in 1924. There are now 74 condors in Arizona and Utah. Visitors to the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs may be able to observe the birds, especially during the spring and summer. Posted: March 9, 2010.
 
       Scottsdale Fire Department representatives are available to check backyards to identify danger zones that could potentially lead to drowning. You will be provided resources so you can remedy any issues or potential dangers. To learn more about pool safety and to set up a Water Safety Survey site visit, go to: www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/watersafetysurvey or call (480) 312-1817. Posted: March 9, 2010.
       Scottsdale Parks and Recreation offers a variety of leisure opportunities. You can preview upcoming recreation programs online and then printed. The summer brochure covering classes, events, and programs taking place June through August, as well as the upcoming fall after-school programs, is available at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/brochure, Questions? Call (480) 312-7957. Posted: March 9, 2010.
       Scottsdale's Curbside Recycling Program enables residents to lower the City's cost of providing residential solid waste services, resulting in lower service fees to residents. Since its inception in 1996, the program has diverted more than 348,000 tons of material from the landfill and resulted in cumulative savings of $12.6 million. To learn more about the curbside recycling program, contact Solid Waste Management at (480) 312-5600 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle. Posted: March 9, 2010.
       The City of Scottsdale reminds residents that they can sign a maximum of three council candidate petitions, which are being circulated for seeking a place on the August 24, 2010, general election ballot. Three council seats will be open in the election. If necessary, a runoff will take place November 2, 2010. Posted: February 7, 2010.
       The Cave Creek Gallery Association, celebrating its one year anniversary, thanks the public for its support during the past year. Our “Art Nights in Cave Creek” have been very successful and lots of fun, and will be continued in 2010! Through these monthly Art Nights in Cave Creek, the participating galleries are attempting to bring art back to the forefront of people’s lives, advocating everyone to purchase art they want to live with. For more information, please visit our website: www.ArtIsAPartOfYouLiveWithIt.com. Posted: February 7, 2010
       The Boulders 25th Anniversary Celebration that was held in January generated $61,000 for local nonprofits, more than doubl the original goal. A check for $12,369.00 (each) was donated to the following: Arizona MusicFest, Desert Foothills Land Trust, Southwest Wildlife, Desert Foothills Food Bank, and Desert Foothills Library. For more information/reservations about the Boulders Resort & Golden Door® Spa, call (480) 488-9009 or visit www.TheBoulders.com. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Arizona Game and Fish says that February's winter storms and accompanying deep snows made it challenging for wildlife in the short term, but wildlife biologists do not expect significant impacts to most species, especially large animals such as elk, deer and antelope. Most wild animals are adapted so they can survive days without eating, possibly even a week or more if necessary. Older animals or those in poor condition can succumb to the added challenges and stress caused by deep snow. The good news is that the storms helped to alleviate the existing drought. The department is monitoring the situation and will take action as needed. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Scottsdale Fire Department can check your home for drowning hazards. Thanks to a free Water Safety Survey program, Scottsdale Fire Department representatives will check backyards to identify danger zones that could potentially lead to a drowning. You will be provided resources so you can remedy any issues or potential dangers. Additionally, representatives will regularly walk neighborhoods throughout the city to promote water safety and the program. For more information or to volunteer to help with this effort, contact Public Education Officer Lori Schmidt at (480) 312-1817 or lschmidt@scottsdaleaz.gov. To learn more about pool safety and to set up a Water Safety Survey site visit, go to http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/watersafetysurvey.
To learn more about Scottsdale's barrier requirements, visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/codes/pools/enclosures. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Scottsdale Leadership Class XXV applications are available online and potential class members are invited to join Scottsdale Leadership at the Applicants Reception on Monday, March 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountain. Applicants will meet and talk with advisory board members, board of directors, alumni and current class members. RSVP for the reception by Tuesday, March 16 to Scottsdale Leadership at info@scottsdaleleadership.org or (480) 627-6710. For more information, or to download an application, visit www.scottsdaleleadership.org/coreprogram. Posted: February 7, 2010
       The Gateway Trailhead at Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve has received a "platinum" designation, the highest certification possible through the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership Energy and Environmental Design program. LEED is a national standard for "green" buildings that use environmental techniques to conserve materials, resources and reduce energy consumption while contributing to the health of its occupants. Only six Arizona structures are certified as LEED platinum. The Gateway Trailhead, designed to have a minimal impact on our desert, includes solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, rammed earth walls constructed of native soil from on-site excavation, structural steel made of high recycled content, native landscaping and parking lot and path surfaces made of stabilized, decomposed granite. For more information about the Gateway, visit
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/greenbuilding/Gateway+Access+Trailhead.pdf
Posted: February 7, 2010
       Scottsdale Special Election, March 9, Read All About It! Read a concise description of the six propositions that will be voted upon in the February, 2010 issue of COPP News. Also, COPP reports that there is no news about the use of text amendments to increase urban sprawl. Read COPP News.
       The Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek is expanding early family literacy reading programs thanks to a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Arizona State Library. Families, children and early educators will benefit from the expanded programs that include the creation of an interactive learning environment at the library, enhanced and expanded weekly story times grouped according to age, parent and care giver early literacy instruction, and additional age-appropriate equipment and materials for the children’s area. For more information, contact the Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road in Cave Creek, call 480-488-2286 or visit www.DesertFoothillsLibrary.org.
Posted: February 7, 2010
       Help our community by filling out a Census survey. Look for the form in your mailbox starting in March. The 2010 Census form only takes about 10 minutes to complete. It's critical to get surveys returned because 1) local governments miss out on about $1,500 per person for every person missed, and 2) the federal government saves about $90 million for every one percent increase in the response rate. For more information, visit http://2010.census.gov. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Arizona Press Women seeks students for $1,000 journalism scholarship. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a high school journalist again this year by Arizona Press Women, a statewide organization of women and men who work as editors, writers, photographers, teachers and public relations specialists. The deadline for entries is April 11, and high school student-journalists can download a scholarship entry form at the APW website, http://www.azpw.org/scholarship.html. The scholarship recipient will be honored April 24 during APW’s annual spring conference in Phoenix. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Scottsdale's municipal channel, CityCable 11, will broadcast a series of public forums to help educate residents about issues that will appear on the March 9 ballot. For more information about the election, visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/elections or call (480) 312-2411. Posted: February 7, 2010
       The City of Scottsdale says that its AmAZing Swim Program is offered at city aquatic facilities. Lap swimmers track yardage, then record information in the AmAZing Swim binder at the front desk of each facility. All swim skill levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. To begin your amAZing swim, visit any Scottsdale pool. For specifics and hours of operation please call or stop by one of Scottsdale's Aquatic Centers, or log on to www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks. Posted: February 7, 2010
       Scottsdale is offering lifeguard training and water safety instructor courses in preparation of summer pool season. Positions available at all four city aquatic centers. Applicants must: 1) take a lifeguard training course and become lifeguard certified, 2) Fill out an application for a lifeguard position. To download a form, visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/HR/Jobs, 3) Mail or drop off the application at: 7575 E. Main St. Scottsdale, 4) Attend a skills test and interview from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays on these dates and locations: March 13, Eldorado Aquatic Center, April 3 at McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center
To sign up for a class or for more information, call Lindsay Adarme at (480) 312-6655 or e-mail Parks&Rec@scottsdaleaz.gov. Posted: February 7, 2010
       The Scottsdale Police Department is offering these tips to help make your next visit to a city park an enjoyable one for you and your pet, as well as other park visitors. 1) All dogs must remain on a leash while in any city park except while in a designated off-leash area. Parks with designated off-leash areas are Chaparral, Horizon and Vista del Camino parks. 2) Leashes must be attached to the dog and can be no longer than six feet. 3) Any dog litter must be removed immediately. Dog litter bags are available at all city parks. 4) All dogs must be licensed and display the current year's tag. Note that any dog-related violation is considered a criminal misdemeanor offense. For more information on the city's off-leash areas, visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/offleashareas.asp. Posted: February 7, 2010
 
      The Greater Pinnacle Peak Association and Friends of the Scenic Drive urge north Scottsdale residents to participate in the Scottsdale General Plan update. The plan is a collective vision for how we want the community to evolve during the next 10 to 20 years. Do you want north Scottsdale to evolve so that it replicates existing urban areas in the Valley of the Sun? If you don't help define the future direction of our area, someone else will, and you probably will not like the result.

        For more information about the General Plan Update, visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/generalplan/update.asp or contact Sr. Planner Carrie Wilhelme at (480) 312-2205 or generalplan@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.  Facebook is a convenient way to link to the city’s Web site and also share information with other residents. You’ll find the page under “Scottsdale General Plan Update 2011.” Posted: November 17, 2009.
        COPP News describes  items that will be voted upon in the March 9th Scottsdale special election. "The End Run Around Scottsdale's General Plan" continues. The Coalition of Pinnacle Peak's January newsletter provided detailed information about the continuing attempts to break existing protective zoning along  north Scottsdale's scenic corridors and the Desert Foothills Character Area. Since the February issue of COPP News was published, The Peak has learned that the city is scheduling another open house for at least one of the projects that have been overwhelmingly opposed by residents. Read COPP News. Posted: February 14, 2010.
     The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that Arizona was recently selected as the "Best Domestic Tourism Destination" by readers of Global Traveler magazine. More than 25,000 people responded to the magazine's annual survey, which is in its sixth year. Last year, Arizona hosted 37.4 million overnight visitors. A good portion of them - more than 8 million - spent at least one night in Scottsdale. Those visitors generated a local economic impact of $3.6 billion and provided $29.4 million in tax revenue. One in eight Scottsdale jobs is directly related to tourism. For more information on Scottsdale tourism, visit the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site at: http://www.scottsdalecvb.com/. Posted: January 8, 2010.
       Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced that its long-awaited and modernized “Arizona Fishin’ Holes” booklet is available. “I give my personal guarantee this is a must have for all Arizona anglers or those who aspire to such a lofty outdoor pursuit,” said Rory Aikens, the department’s fishing report editor.
      "We have brought this wonderful fishing guide into the 21st century. We truly crafted it to be glove box, cell phone, laptop, and GPS-unit friendly,” Aikens promised. There are GPS coordinates for each lake, up-to-date resource telephone numbers, and even Internet addresses so you can easily get the latest fishing information, even as you travel to your favorite fishery. The booklet is priced at $8 and is available at all Arizona Game and Fish offices. To get the latest fishing tips and reports either by email, news feed, Facebook, Twitter, or online, visit www.azgfd.gov/fishing.  Posted: January 8, 2010.
      The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale has unveiled a new menu of facials utilizing the mineral-rich Omorovicza product line. This unique skincare line and new menu of facials is both effective and naturally based, according to Spa Director Lia Rowland. Botanicals such as jojoba oil, sage, and orange blossom are incorporated into many of the products, making it the perfect fit for the resort’s Sonoran Desert destination. For more information about the Omorovicza product line and the complete new menu of facials, please call (480) 513-5145. The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North includes a 12,000-square-foot, full-service spa featuring 14 treatment rooms, including two private spa suites. The spa offers an extensive array of seasonal, indigenous, and innovative skin and body treatments, scrubs, clay wraps, facials, and massages. The resort is located at 10600 East Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale. For information, call (480) 513-5020. Posted: January 8, 2010.
     Condé Nast Traveler magazine recently announced their 2010 Reader’s Choice Award recipients in the January issue. The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa was named on the prestigious Gold List: World’s Best Places to Stay for the tenth consecutive year. The 16th Annual Condé Nast Traveler Gold List is considered the ultimate annotated guide to the world’s finest properties and one of the largest consumer polls in the nation. The survey asked readers to rate travel destinations using criteria such as service, location, rooms, cuisine, amenities, and facilities. For more information, call 480-488-9009 or visit www.TheBoulders.com. Posted: January 8, 2010.
     The City of Scottsdale has information about feral cats on its Web site at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/health/Feral_Cats. The site serves as a resource and referral since Maricopa County Animal Care and Control oversees such issues and offers programs to help control the feral cat population. Different from strays, feral cats have little or no human contact and struggle to find food and shelter. They are usually not spayed or neutered and reproduce at an alarming rate. The county's programs are available to businesses, residential properties, homeowner associations, and cities and towns. If you would like more information about the feral cat population, contact the county at (602) 506-PETS or visit http://www.maricopa.gov/Pets/FieldEnforcement/FeralCats.  Posted: January 12, 2010
      Congratulations Carla! On December 7th, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission voted to recommend that the Scottsdale City Council designate the road to the Gateway of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve as Carla Way. Former mayor, Mary Manross, testified at the meeting, "I think if my predecessors Mayor Drinkwater and Mayor Campana were here, I'm pretty confident we'd all be standing up here together saying the same thing, that there really isn't any individual ... in this community who has been more the heart and soul of the preserve." Friends of the Scenic Drive also appreciates Carla's enthusiastic support of Cookout at the Ranch and for helping to forge the relationship between the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust (now the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy) and Friends of the Scenic Drive (now a division of GPPA). We hope that some day, the city will add a Gateway exhibit that describes the meaning of "Carla's Way." Posted: December 14, 2009.
     Friends of the Scenic Drive, a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, opposes the new applications for a text amendment and CUP (cases 5-TA2009, 35-UP-2009) for a high density health care facility on the southwest corner of E. Lone Mountain Road. Friends is convinced that if this approach to zoning changes is allowed, much of north Scottsdale will be overtaken by urban sprawl.  To learn why Friends opposes the project, read "Oppose Urban Sprawl," and "Signs of the Times."  To view the applications, call (480) 312-7000; for more information or to comment, E-mail projectinput@scottsdaleaz.gov. The city contact is Joe Collins, (480) 385-2727. Posted: December 14, 2009.
     AARP's Tax Aide Program asks, "Are you good with numbers and want to give back to your community?" If so, volunteer tax counselors are needed to provide free tax counseling and tax return preparation for those with moderate to low incomes. Volunteers are needed at various Scottsdale locations. You'll receive free training to help prepare basic tax returns and can choose from flexible hours and convenient locations Between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2009, more than 90 Arizona sites served more than 44,000 taxpayers. Prior tax preparation experience is not necessary. For more information, contact AARP at 1-888-687-2277 or visit http://www.aarp.org/taxaide. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak and the Boy Scout Troop 603 will be picking up and recycling Christmas Trees on Saturday, January 2nd and Saturday, January 9th. For information, visit http://www.thepeakaz.org/rotary.htm. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     Pinnacle Peak Park offers a variety of fun and educational programs throughout the fall and winter. Enjoy a guided interpretive hike and learn about the plants, animals, geology and history of the Sonoran Desert. Or, try a night outing on a Full Moon Hike or at an Astronomy Talk. The park is at 26802 N. 102nd Way. Call (480) 312-0990 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/pinnaclepeak for more information. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     The City of Scottsdale's Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of spring fitness, health and relaxation classes. A brochure is available for this spring's parks and recreation classes and programs. Spring classes are now available to view online. Spring registration begins in early December. For more information, call (480) 312-7957 or visit http://Recreation.ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     The Arizona Game & Fish Department's recently completed survey of the desert bighorn sheep population on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona resulted in a population estimate of 410 sheep. The survey estimate is down from the 2008 survey estimate of 436 sheep, but it is still slightly above the lowest recorded estimated level of the 2006 survey of 390.

Once a very robust population, the size of the herd on the refuge has dropped significantly since 2000. Wildlife experts attribute the decline to a variety of potential factors including drought, predation, water availability, disease and human disturbance. Due to the significance of this sheep population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) are conducting an ongoing, joint study to collect data on these and other suspected causes of the population’s decline. The project study is scheduled to run through the fall of 2010.

An extensive Web site dedicated to the Kofa NWR bighorn sheep is available at www.azgfd.gov/kofa. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     Appaloosa, Scottsdale's newest addition to its stable of award-winning library locations, is open. The library is located Silverstone community, site of the former Rawhide Western Town. Appaloosa is a 21,500-square-foot full service branch library that houses a teen center, early learning and story room, a café/newsroom, quiet lounge and study rooms. The main public reading room houses 80,000 volumes and there will be 48 public computers.To get the latest news on the Appaloosa Library, call (480) 312-READ or visit: http://www.scottsdalelibrary.org/. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     Scottsdale's CityCable Channel 11 is presenting two informational programs on the upcoming flu season and how you can protect yourself and your family. A program entitled "2 Flues and You," will play every Wednesday at 12:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. in November. The program discusses the seasonal and H1N1 flues, who is most at risk and what you can do to protect yourself. A second program, "Fired Up," is hosted by Scottsdale Fire Chief Willie McDonald. "Fired Up" plays every Friday in November at 12:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. For more information on the H1N1 flu, visit: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/H1N1. For more information on CityCable Channel 11 programming, visit:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/citycable11. Posted: November 17, 2009. Keep scrolling for additional information from Scottsdale Healthcare about H1N1 (September post).
     State University's W. P. Carey School of Business will bring its highly rated part-time MBA program to a new location convenient to the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills areas at the northeast corner of Bell Road and 82nd Street. The school offers one of the best part-time MBA programs in the country, with an evening MBA program ranked "Top 25" in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. For more information on the new Scottsdale location of the W. P. Carey School of Business, visit: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/News/10-30-09-News_9685. Posted: November 17, 2009.
     Marcelle Chase, a long-time GPPA member, writes that Curves of Cave Creek/Carefree has moved to 6501 E. Cave Creek Rd. Suite 5; in Cave Creek. Marcelle writes, "If you're a voman and you're feeling blue, do not stay home alone. Instead, go to Curves (formerly at 25 Easy Street, in Carefree). Read entire article. Posted: October 6, 2009.
     Jennifer Konerko and her husband Paul, first baseman and team captain of the Chicago White Sox, stepped up to bat for the Desert Sun Early Childhood Playground. Extensive improvements were made to the playground, through the generosity of The Konerko Family Charitable Foundation. Diminutive representatives of the preschool classes told the Konerko family how they felt about the playground and presented scrapbooks to Jennifer Konerko. “In the life of a preschool child, it all begins on the playground,” says Nancie Schauder. “This playground is an extension of our preschool classroom and we are incredibly grateful to the Konerko family for this gift to all of the children.” The Desert Sun Elementary School, located in Scottsdale, serves grades K-5 in the Cave Creek Unified District. It is among the few public elementary schools in Arizona to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10. Posted: October 15, 2009.
     The Bajada Nature Trail at the Gateway to Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Thompson Peak Parkway) isaccessible to anyone would like to learn more about the Sonoran Desert. Along this half-mile trail, visitors can immerse themselves in nature, enjoying interactiv e displays that engage them with the environment. Importantly, the trail is barrier free, allowing members of the disabled community to experience the most diverse habitat in the Sonoran Desert. For additional information, visit www.mcdowellsonoran.org or call (480) 998-7971. Posted: October 15, 2009.
     Fitch, a national ratings agency, announced in October that Scottsdale  is retaining the "AA" rating for $71.2 million in excise tax debt issued through the Scottsdale Preserve Authority (SPA). The SPA is a financial authority set up by the city specifically for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Bonds sold by the authority are paid through a portion of city sales tax revenues dedicated for the acquisition of property in the preserve, which now exceeds 11,000 acres and is targeted to grow to about 36,000, about one-third of the city. Fitch noted that Scottsdale's sales tax revenues have "declined markedly over the past year as the national recession has deepened." However, the agency said the city's ability to fund its debt payments is sound and "the long term prospects for Scottsdale . remain positive because of its demographics, economic diversity and appeal to businesses, tourists and outdoor enthusiasts," .Posted: October 15, 2009.
     Black-tailed prairie dogs are making a comeback after vanishing from Arizona’s landscape nearly 50 years ago. ailTwenty-seven black-tailed prairie dogs captured in New Mexico were released in late September into the wild at the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita in southeastern Arizona. This release follows a release last October of 74 black-tailed prairie dogs in the conservation area. “Black-tailed prairie dogs play a key ecological role by helping maintain grasslands for other animals to forage and serving as important prey for eagles and hawks,” said Eric Gardner, nongame branch chief with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Because of the far-reaching effect they have on other species, successful re-establishment would benefit the whole ecosystem by maintaining species diversity.” This black-tailed prairie dog release was a collaborative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Land Management. Posted: October 15, 2009.
     The Arizona State Parks Board has approved a $3.25 million matching grant to Scottsdale to acquire about 400 acres of state trust land for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Scottsdale hopes to purchase the property from the State Land Department later this year or in early 2010. No date has been set to auction the property, which has an estimated value of about $6.5 million. The acreage, part of the McDowell Mountains, lies between the alignments of Deer Valley Road and Pinnacle Peak Road on the north and south, and between the 104th and 112th street alignments on the west and east. Scottsdale has already acquired or protected more than 11,000 acres and has a long-range goal to expand the preserve to about 36,000 acres, nearly a third of the city’s land area. The city is funding land purchases from the proceeds of two dedicated sales taxes approved by voters in 1995 and 2004. The parks board on Sept. 11 unanimously approved the Scottsdale application for a Growing Smarter State Trust Land Acquisition Grant. Using the grant funds for a portion of the purchase will mean that more of the city’s dedicated sales tax dollars will be available for future purchases. Posted: September 15, 2009.
     Scottsdale Healthcare opened its annual clinics providing flu and pneumonia shots for adults on Sept. 14. With many public health officials expecting a worse-than-usual flu season, the clinics have been opened earlier this year to help individuals prevent catching and spreading the flu. Vaccinations are given on a walk-in basis. Flu shots are $25 and pneumonia shots are $35. Medicare is accepted, and the Medicare card is required. Cash or checks are accepted. Clinics are open Monday-Friday through December, except holidays. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Scottsdale Healthcare flu shot clinic locations: Medical Plaza IV Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center 10200 N. 92nd St., Ste. 100, Scottsdale (480) 323-3818, Scottsdale Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, 3501 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 231, Scottsdale (480) 882-4770, 9201 E. Mountain View Rd., Ste. 120, Scottsdale (480) 323-4680, Scottsdale Airpark,16101 N. 82nd St., Ste. A8, Scottsdale, (480) 323-1880.

Who should get a flu shot? Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu generally can get vaccinated. However, certain people should be vaccinated each year, including: children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu.

Who should get a pneumonia shot? You should get a pneumonia shot if you are age 65 or older, have serious long-term health problems such as heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease, diabetes or liver cirrhosis, have lowered resistance to infection due to certain health issues, are an Alaskan Native or from certain Native American populations. Posted: September 15, 2009
     Scottsdale Healthcare encourages individuals to protect themselves and others, as well as be prepared in case loved ones catch the flu by taking the following steps: 1) Get your seasonal flu shot. Seasonal flu immunization clinic dates and details will be announced in the media. Also watch for information on a separate H1N1 vaccine, which is still in development. 2) Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands after covering a cough or sneeze or blowing your nose. Scrub with soap at least 15 seconds or rub hands together with alcohol-based hand gel until the gel dries. 3)Try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, or cough into your sleeve. Remember to throw the tissue away and wash your hands. 4) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. If you touch something contaminated with germs, then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the germs may spread.5) Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise and sleep, managing stress and staying hydrated can help keep your immune system strong. 6) Stay home if you are ill. This will help protect others from getting sick, as well as help you recover. 7) Establish back-up child care plans. Arrange in
advance to have someone available to care for children if needed cue to provider illness or facility closings. 8) Monitor your vacation time. Make sure you have enough time in your vacation time bank in case you become ill or have to stay
home to care for sick family members. To stay updated on flu recommendations by visiting the Maricopa County Department of Public Health at www.wearepublichealth.org or the Arizona Department of Health Services at
www.azdhs.gov. For information about Scottsdale Healthcare flu education presentations, call (480)-882-4636. Posted: August 30, 2009.
     Arizona Musicfest has hired Lynn Bowers as Managing Director,” announced Jim Morrissey, Chairman of the Board, Arizona Musicfest. After attending the Jordan School of Music at Butler University in Indianapolis, Bowers spent her corporate career in the banking industry. During the last ten years of her twenty year tenure with Wells Fargo, she managed the Nonprofit Banking Division, working with 250 nonprofit customers. She joins Arizona Musicfest after consulting nonprofit organizations. Bowers has served on numerous nonprofit boards over the years, including United Blood Services Community Leadership Council, Alliance for Audience, The Bead Museum, and New Arizona Family, Inc. She has served on grant committees for the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and is currently a Commissioner of the Phoenix Arts Commission, and Chair of that organization’s Arts Education Committee. For additional information, please contact Arizona Musicfest at (480) 488-0806 or azmusicfestoffice@azmusicfest.org. Posted: August 30, 2009.
     Biologists recently presented the Arizona Game and Fish Commission with compelling data indicating that recovering the critically important Kofa desert bighorn sheep herd from near record-low population levels will be challenging due to additive mountain lion predation. Monitoring of one radio-collared mountain lion revealed it had killed 14 bighorn sheep since February, an average of one bighorn sheep about every 10 days. At this rate, this one lion is on pace to kill an estimated 37 bighorn sheep annually. By comparison, the estimated annual yearling recruitment from the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge bighorn sheep herd is only 39 animals. Additionally, biologists reported last week that the same radio-collared lion has made a 15th kill. The animal killed was a bighorn lamb within the Kofa Predation Management Area near the Little Horn Mountains. Eleven of the bighorn sheep killed were within the department’s Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area. The Kofa NWR bighorn sheep population provides 76 percent of all bighorn sheep recruitment in a greater isolated metapopulation in southwestern Arizona and is a critical core in sheep restoration for Arizona and the southwestern U.S. For history on the struggling Kofa bighorn sheep population, visit www.azgfd.gov/kofa. Posted: August 30, 2009.
        Arizona Game and Fish has announced that its Native Fish Cam at the Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery has been honored with Earth Cam’s Top 10 Cam award. “We have installed an underwater camera at our Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery near Sedona, which is where we raise unique native fish like the endangered humpback chub that is found in the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon,” said Brian Ference, the webmaster for Game and Fish. For a journey below the surface to see these amazing native fish that are uniquely adapted to aquatic habitats in the Southwest, simply click on http://www.azgfd.gov/fishcam or just visit the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov.
        The Native Fish Cam is routinely moved, so at any time you might see Colorado pikeminnow (that can reach up to 100 pounds), roundtail chub (found in Fossil Creek), razorback sucker, bonytail chub, and many other native fish species, most of which are endangered. Posted: July 1, 2009.
        Arizona Game and Fish says that biologists were cautious in their predictions for the success of a black-tailed prairie dog colony established late last year in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita. After all, the 74 animals released in October faced some foreseen and many unforeseen challenges. However, early surveys conducted this month indicate the original adults are faring well and have begun to establish a foothold in their new community with the addition of at least two litters of pups.
        Biologists’ pre-release projections targeted a 10 to 20 percent survival rate for the originally released animals. Surveys conducted in June show the colony is at the upper-end of that projection with 19 percent survival.
        The Arizona Game and Fish Department reintroduced the species to southern Arizona to repopulate the animals to where they once existed nearly 50 years ago before they vanished from the state’s landscape. They are a critical keystone species in Arizona, maintaining grasslands for other animals to forage and serving as important prey for eagles and hawks. They affect a number of other species, so their successful reestablishment would benefit the entire ecosystem by maintaining species diversity. Posted: July 1, 2009.
       Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital celebrated its 100th high-tech daVinci robotic surgical procedure in early June, a significant milestone for the Northeast Valley’s newest hospital. The 100th surgery, a prostatectomy, was performed by urologist Dr. Bernard Gburek, who completed the Thompson Peak Hospital’s first daVinci surgery on Dec. 17, 2009. Dr. Gburek also performed Arizona’s first-ever daVinci robot-assisted prostatectomy in 2002 at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center.
The daVinci robotic surgical system is used for minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, resulting in smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and faster recovery times. Surgeons are currently performing urology, gynecology, GYN oncology, and general surgery procedures with the system at the Thompson Peak Hospital and Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center. The surgeon makes only a few small incisions instead of a large open incision as in traditional open surgery. Surgeons guide a four-armed robot using three-dimensional HD magnification and special computer-guided precision instruments. Two handles at the surgeon’s console maneuver tiny instruments inserted through dime-sized incisions. Only a few sutures are needed instead of the large incisions required with traditional open surgery. Potential patients who would like more information, can call (480) 323-3350 or visit www.shc.org. Posted: June 10, 2009.
       City of Scottsdale has announced that residents dropped off 38,000 items during its May electronics recycling event. More than 900 participants dropped off everything from cell phones to computers during the event, diverting materials that otherwise would end up in area landfills. The city's electronics recycling contractor, ScrapComputer.com, instead refurbishes the equipment or disassembles it for recycling or resale of parts. Since the first electronics recycling collection event was held in 2002, 11,690 participants have brought in more than 339 tons of electronics. The next event is scheduled to be held on Oct. 10. For more information, contact the city's Solid Waste Management Division at (480) 312-5602 or visit: www.scottsdaleaz.gov/recycle/recyclingelectronics.asp." Posted: June 10, 2009.
 
       The City of Scottsdale held an open house on June 4th to give residents an opportunity to preview two controversial amendments to the Scottsdale General Plan. The Coalition of Pinnacle Peak, which strenuously opposed both amendments,  issued a "COPP Alert" that summarizes the amendments and COPP's objections. At the hearing, the city distributed a fact sheet that provides introductory information about General Plan amendments and the amendment process. In addition, the city distributed fact sheets summarizing Case-2-GP-2009 (SW corner of Lone Mountain and Dynamite) and Case-3-GP-2009 (NW corner of Dynamite and Pima). GPPA supports COPP's positions and also opposes these amendments. Schedule of upcoming public meetings: Planning Commission Open House, 8/26/2009, Scottsdale Water Campus, 8787 E. Hualapai Drive, 5 p.m., Planning Commission Hearing, 9/23/2009, City Hall Kiva, 3939 Drinkwater Blvd., 5 p.m., and City Council Hearing, 10/27/2009, City Hall Kiva, 3939 Drinkwater Blvd., 5 p.m. Posted: June 4, 2009.
         GPPA has announced that Cody Williams, a graduating senior from Cactus Shadows High Schools, is the 2009 recipient of GPPA's college grant of $1,000. GPPA makes the award annually to a high school student who is enrolled and accepted for college in the coming spring. For additional information about the award and Cody Williams, visit the Contests section of this Web site.
         The Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) has announced that GPPA's A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) magazine has won a 2009 EXCEL award for its editorial "On the Road to Groundhog Land." ( PDF 84 KB)  The editorial, which discusses urban sprawl as it relates to Scottsdale and our area, was written by The Peak's editor, Les Conklin, and was published in the "Sneak Peeks" column in the September 2008 issue. The Peak also received a silver award in the 2005 EXCEL competition.

          The award letter, written by SNAP's Amy E. Lestition, Executive Director and Julie S. Walker, Chair, Excel Awards, states "Congratulations! On behalf of the Board of Directors ..., it is our distinct pleasure to congratulate you as a winner of the esteemed EXCEL Award in the following: A Peek at the Peak magazine, "On the Road to Groundhog Land" was awarded a Silver Award in the Magazine Editorial category. In a year with an extraordinary number of high quality entries, it was more difficult that ever to win an award but you did. Your submission displayed superior quality and truly is The Best and the Brightest in the association community. Your accomplishment will be recognized at the 29th Excel Awards Gala on Thursday, June 4, 2009, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C."

         SNAP is a non-profit, professional society consisting of association publishers and communications professionals. Founded in 1963, SNAP is headquartered outside of Washington, DC. SNAP is made up of 1,400 association publishers, editors, designers, advertising sales managers, circulation supervisors, and production professionals. SNAP's mission is to enhance the effectiveness of print and electronic publications professionals to meet their association's communication and business goals. Last year's magazine winners included many well known nonprofits, such as AARP, World Vision, U.S. Naval Institute, Penn State Alumni Association, Habitat for Humanity, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. For a complete list of this year's winning publications, read SNAP EXCEL announcement and for a joint press release read April 28th release. For information about SNAP, visit www.snaponline.org.   Posted: April 28, 2009       

          Two Scottsdale General Plan amendments have been filed by developers to rezone residential property that is rural and equestrian in nature (described as "antiquated" by one of the developers) to commercial uses.
          Case 3-GP-2009  ( PDF 84 KB) is to upzone the NW corner of Pima Road and Dynamite Road (both Scenic Corridors) and Case 2-GP-2009 ( PDF 84 KB) is to upzone the SW corner of Lone Mountain Road and Scottsdale Road (also a Scenic Corridor). Both cases will be considered by the Scottsdale City Council in September.
         Past city councils have approved the Desert Foothills Character Area, the Desert Foothills Overlay, classified the northern reaches of Pima and Scottsdale Road as Scenic Corridors, supported the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, supported burying power lines (the only Improvement District passed in the history of Scottsdale), and included portions of the Desert Foothills in the Planned McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Past councils have also rejected previous attempts to rezone residential lots to higher intensity uses. Now, we have a new city council and it's not known if they will continue to support the unique rural desert character of the foothills. The editorial for which The Peak received a Society of National Publications EXCEL award describes efforts to preserve the uniquely beautiful Desert Foothills landscape.  See "On the Road to Groundhog Land."  ( PDF 84 KB). Posted: May 10, 2009.
         Scottsdale Healthcare says it has completed multiple disaster drills to help prepare for a crisis outbreak of flu in the event of a pandemic situation. In April 2007, hundreds of simulated patients with avian flu symptoms were seen at the Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals. The drill was held in response to heightened concerns over a possible bird flu pandemic as part of the second annual Coyote Crisis Campaign. The exercise tested readiness and collaboration among hospitals, business, academic institutions, military and government, including health agencies at the county, state and federal levels. A flu disaster drill held in 2006 activated the medical centers’ emergency operations centers to manage and conduct mass immunizations of hospital employees. Posted: May 10, 2009.
          Arizona Game and Fish says that a female bald eagle in Arizona has defied the odds and successfully raised her offspring to fledging: a considerable feat for a single parent in these tough times. Bald eagles normally raise their young as a team, with parents taking turns foraging for food and protecting the young in the nest. Young eaglets left in a nest alone are susceptible to both temperature extremes and predators. But, in this case, the male eagle disappeared days after the nestling hatched. His fate is still unknown.

          Nestwatchers assigned to monitor the nest on the lower Salt River noted the female assuming all of the parenting duties in the absence of a male. The decision was made to provide supplemental food along the river’s edge to help insure the survival of the young bird and prevent abandonment of the nest and hatchling. Despite the supplemental feeding efforts, the female proved to be effective in providing for herself and rarely took advantage of the supplied fish, perhaps due to the availability of trout from the winter stocking.

          Arizona expects to have nearly 50 breeding pairs of bald eagles this year and hopes to match or exceed the 2008 record year of 53 eaglets surviving to make their first flight. Posted: May 10, 2009.
          Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital has earned Cycle II Chest Pain Accreditation, providing the community a recognized facility for rapidly diagnosing and treating chest pain to prevent further injury to the heart. Now in its second year of operation, the hospital was recently reviewed by the Society of Chest Pain Centers for the first time. Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital bypassed the less-advanced Cycle I level of accreditation because of its ability to provide a higher level of care through detailed coordination of emergency services among clinical staff and departments, as well as with emergency medical personnel. When fire department members and paramedics are in the field, they can do an EKG, call the emergency room at Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak, and speak to a physician to coordinate the patient’s care. In addition to a collaborative approach, Chest Pain Centers must meet high standards for patient care, diagnostic and rehabilitation services, and community education programs. Posted: May 10, 2009.
          The City of Scottsdale reminds residents not to forget Vista del Camino Food Bank this summer. Food supplies for families in need can run very low in the summer when kids are home from school and other household expenses are higher. Please bring your non-perishable food items from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to Vista, 7700 E. Roosevelt. Items most needed include canned foods, boxed cereals, baby food and formula, diapers and toiletries. Call (480) 312-2323 for more information. Posted: May 10, 2009.
         The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites you to attend one of the free bat workshops being held throughout the summer to learn the answers to these questions and find out more about these shy, misunderstood creatures. The workshops will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The programs begin with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds. The remaining workshops will be held on Friday, June 12 at 7:15 p.m., Friday, July 17 at 7:15 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m. Arizona is home to 28 bat species, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves. Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. It has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches, and it roosts in caves, tunnels, and crevices in tunnels, bridges and buildings. Bats are most frequently observed between April and October, but many species are active year-round in the state. They are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind.

         Those attending a workshop should park at the commercial building located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The workshop will be held on the southwest corner of that intersection at the Maricopa County Flood Control District Tunnel, next to the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive on time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait! For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov. Posted: May 10, 2009.
         The City of Scottsdale has announced that a section of Union Hills Drive between Pima Road and Thompson Peak Parkway has been renamed Legacy Boulevard. The change is designed to avoid confusion for drivers and to create consistency between Scottsdale and Phoenix roadways. There are several sections of the Union Hills alignment that cross through both cities. Creating a new name, Legacy Boulevard, for the entire stretch of road will reduce confusion for drivers and residents. A new section of Legacy Boulevard will soon be open between Scottsdale and Hayden roads. The section between Hayden and Pima roads will be completed in the next several years. Posted: May 10, 2009.
          Scottsdale Public Library is participating in the Culture Pass Program, which allows participants free entry to the Valley's top entertainment and educational destinations, including museums, cultural centers, and historical sites. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership that unites 13 local arts and cultural organizations with six greater Phoenix area public libraries. Passes are available for checkout at all four Scottsdale libraries. Libraries have a limited number of passes, and they are available on a first come, first served basis. For more information on how to participate in the Culture Pass Program, call the library at (480) 312-READ or visit www.ScottsdaleLibrary.org.
        Whether you are 2 or 92, you can participate in one of the Summer Reading Programs at the Scottsdale Public Library. Stop by one of the library locations to pick up your Summer Reading Log for children, teens, or adults. Scottsdale Libraries – a great way to spend the long days of summer without spending money! Visit www.ScottsdaleLibrary.org for more information. Posted: April 18, 2009.
          Cave Creek Coffee Company, also known as C4 Martini & Wine Bar announces the unveiling of the in house roasting room and licensing of Cave Creek Coffee Roastery as the "exclusive roaster for the Cave Creek Coffee Brand." Cave Creek Coffee Roastery "roasting room, a state of the art wholesale facility, is located at 37611 N. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, just around the southwest corner from C4. Cave Creek Coffee Roastery already has a firm business foundation with customers like Tonto Bar & Grill, Cartwright's, Roaring Fork, Razz, Silverleaf Club, Desert Mountain and Richardson's, among others. Cave Creek Coffee Company and Wine Bar is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch dinner, and everything in between. It's located at 6033 E. Cave Creek Road. For more information visit www.cavecreekcoffee.com or call (480) 488-0603. Posted: April 21, 2009.
          Arizona Game and Fish Department says that 92 people braved the cold weather and long nights for an opportunity to call in: “we’ve got one.” The dedicated volunteers joined Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel for five nights in the Aubrey Valley to spotlight for the elusive, nocturnal, endangered black-footed ferret. In all, the group of participants caught 33 ferrets, 24 of which were unique individuals, meaning they are wild born and had never before been trapped. Two of the ferrets captured were first documented in 2006, displaying longevity in the wild.
          The black-footed ferret was twice thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered in 1981. After a disease outbreak, a mere 18 of the black-footed ferrets remained in the world. Those final 18 were captured and captive breeding efforts began in 1985. In 1996, Arizona’s Aubrey Valley was selected as a reintroduction site and it was five years before the first documentation of wild-born ferrets. A fall spotlighting effort will take place in October. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the black-footed ferret field station at azferret@azgfd.gov to receive more information. Posted: April 18, 2009.
          Children are drawn to water, especially now as summer approaches. Install multiple layers of protection between your home and pool, such as pool fences with self-closing, self-latching gates and door alarms that sound when opened from the inside. Secure all doors, gates, and pet doors that lead to the pool area. Teach children to swim. Keep toys and objects away from the pool and spa areas. Secure spas with childproof covers. Keep a phone by the pool to call 911 in case of an emergency, and watch children every second. Visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/fire/preventdrownings.asp for more water safety information.

           Use Water Wisely! Watch plants for stress in June, usually the driest month of the year. And when watering with a hose, set a timer as a reminder to turn it off. Visit www.wateruseitwisely.com or call (480) 312-5650 for more water conservation tips. Posted: April 18, 2009.
          Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, the three R's, can help you minimize the negative effect of garbage on the environment and health of our community. Here are some tips for a greener home. Replace paper napkins and towels with cloth. Create and use note pads from once-used paper. And leave messages for your family on a reusable message board. Posted: April 18, 2009.
          The Scottsdale Fire Department says you can protect your home and family from danger of wildfires by creating a 30-foot defensible space around your home -- the space that helps firefighters protect your house from approaching flames. To create this space, remove all dead brush and grass, remove low lying dead or dying branches from trees, and clear flammable items and foliage from under wooden decks and overhangs. If you need more information, call the Fire Department at (480) 312-FIRE. That’s 312-3473. Posted: April 18, 2009.
          Scottsdale Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Michael Foley, MD, has been honored as the first “featured member” on the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s Web site. Dr. Foley was selected from among approximately 2,000 active members. A practicing specialist in maternal-fetal medicine and an expert in critical care obstetrics, and known as a humanitarian, Dr. Foley is a sixth-degree black belt and co-founder of the Center for Humane Living, an organization dedicated to enhancing spiritual and personal growth through an innovative approach to traditional martial arts education. Dr. Foley teaches martial arts out of his home and has written a book entitled “The Art of Humane Living - Martial Arts as a Path to Peace.” Posted: April 18, 2009.
          Step UP!, a parent-initiated fund-raiser, seeks donations from district residents and businesses to minimize damage from an estimated shortfall of $4.9 million, said Step UP! spokesperson Gregory Smith. These donations could save teacher positions when the district governing board votes on layoffs by April 14.
          "The district might eliminate all phys ed teachers at elementary schools," said Smith, a parent in Cave Creek. "Music and art could be sliced in half there. Librarians and computer labs are targeted, too."
          The governing board is pressured to lay off teachers because salaries and benefits comprise 83 percent of the budget. A list of potential cutbacks shown at public budget forums includes pay cuts for teachers and administrators, along with district staff layoffs.
          Step UP! asks parents to donate $200 per student or $350 per family by April 10, and businesses could sponsor students at $200 each. "It's just over a dollar per school day for each kid, but it could exceed $1 million if all parents donate," Smith said. "We could save teachers."
          Anybody can donate any amount, even if they don't have children in the district. "Arizona has the lowest spending per student in the nation," Smith said, quoting the National Education Association. "People who donate are helping the children who represent our nation's future. The better our kids are educated, the better we compete in the global economy."
          Federal funding formulas provide more money for less affluent areas. Although the impact of federal stimulus aid remains unclear, it's expected to be doled out largely to schools serving many subsidized school lunches.
          "Cave Creek is in an ironic situation," Smith said. "We have good demographics but that prevents us from getting enough funding. And because it's a small district, we don't have much bureaucracy or fat to cut."
          Donors can send a check to CCUSD at P.O. Box 426, Cave Creek, AZ 85327. Checks mailed by April 10 should arrive before the governing board makes its budget-balancing decisions.
          In late February, GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive accepted the conceptual plan for the proposed Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Memory Park. The plan, which includes a detailed project narrative and illustrations, was developed by  Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates. The park, which is designed for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to local resorts, will provide information about the history, flora, and fauna of the Desert Foothills and Pinnacle Peak areas. A volunteer design committee met with architect Doug Sydnor to develop the plan. Members of the committee were Horst Berkner, Clayton Poulson, Marg Nelssen, Gerry Rosenthal, Ken Lew, and Les Conklin. For additional information about the park, visit http://www.scenicdrive.org/about_drive.htm. Posted: March 15, 2009.
          Pets on Wheels of Scottsdale needs volunteers to make weekly visits to Scottsdale's health care centers with their pets. There are many rewards and everyone wins. If you are interested in volunteering your pet's love to enhance the lives of the elderly and/or infirm in nursing homes and cancer centers, call (602) 735-6886 for more information. Or, visit
www.petsonwheelsscottsdale.com. Posted March 15, 2009.
          The Arizona Game and Fish Department has developed a Web page to provide more information and answer questions on the recently collared jaguar in southern Arizona. The new Web page contains a summary of the capture and collaring of Macho B, along with press releases, a timeline of events, photographs and answers to frequently asked questions. The new Macho B Web page address is www.azgfd.gov/machob. 

          The jaguar was incidentally captured Feb. 18 in an area southwest of Tucson during a research study aimed at monitoring habitat connectivity for mountain lions and black bears. The cat was fitted with a satellite tracking collar and then released. It was hoped that the collar would provide biologists with a better understanding of how jaguars use the borderland habitats.

          Initial location data indicated the jaguar was doing well and had moved more than three miles from the original capture site, but data monitoring more than a week later revealed a decreased level of activity. A response team was activated to assess the animal’s condition in the field. Due to weight loss, on Mar 2 the cat was brought immediately to the Phoenix Zoo for further medical assessment. It was determined then through blood tests that the jaguar was in severe and unrecoverable kidney failure, and the decision was made to euthanize the animal. For more information about jaguar conservation in Arizona, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/jaguar_management.shtml. Posted March 15, 2009.
          Arizona Game and Fish has announced that it has released two endangered species of fish at Maricopa County’s McDowell Mountain Regional Park, north of Fountain Hills. Gila topminnow and desert pupfish were reestablished by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, on March 13th, at the regional park as part of a Safe Harbor Agreement for topminnow and pupfish. More than hundred topminnow and several hundred pupfish were released into the park’s Pemberton Pond. This reestablishment is only the second stocking of topminnow and pupfish to occur as part of the Safe Harbor Agreement. The first occurred outside of Tucson.

          Although once common throughout most of the Gila River basin, the Gila topminnow and desert pupfish now naturally occur in only a fraction of their historic range. Habitat loss, alteration and the introduction of non-native fishes have contributed to declines in natural populations of these two species that provide natural vector control, effectively preying on mosquito larvae and helping to control mosquito-borne illnesses. As native species, they pose fewer threats to other native species sharing the same habitat than non-native, mosquito-control species that have been introduced. McDowell Mountain Regional Park is located at 16300 McDowell Mountain Park Drive in Fountain Hills. For additional information on the park, visit www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell. To learn more about the Gila topminnow or desert pupfish, visit www.azgfd.gov.

In March, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wrote, "While you are lying in your bed at night, 20 people are sleeping in tents so they can wake up at the crack of dawn to help protect our state’s bald eagles."  According to the department, the nestwatch program is an integral component of Arizona’s bald eagle management plan and has helped save the lives of over 60 eagle nestlings since the program began in 1978. 

This year’s nestwatchers began a four-month tour of duty on Feb. 6. They’re watching 11 breeding areas, most along the Salt and Verde Rivers in national forests, on Native American lands, and in Maricopa County parks. They'll observe from dawn to dusk, collecting data about the eagles’ behavior, educating the public, and notifying rescuers of any life-threatening situations for the birds. 

A recent statewide survey identified four new breeding areas, bringing the total number of breeding sites in Arizona to 59. In addition, at least 11 eggs have already hatched, 36 pairs of bald eagles have laid eggs for the year, and a total of 42 breeding areas are occupied by breeding adults. By the end of the breeding season, biologists expect nearly 50 pairs of bald eagles to breed in Arizona this year. For information, visit www.swbemc.org/nestwatch_p.html and www.azbfg.gov. Posted March 15, 2009.
          The Cave Creek Unified School District says that Arizona school districts are considering the use of geothermal technology to reduce utility costs, and they received good news in March. Data received from test wells drilled in the Cave Creek Unified and White River Unified School Districts provided conclusive evidence to predict successful use of GeoExchange HVAC systems within the state. Dr. Kent Frison, Associate Superintendent of Operations and Finance stated, “... geothermal technology is definitely an alternative energy source we will be seriously studying, especially because of the potential budget reductions the district is facing from the state deficit." For information about the school district, visit www.ccusd93.org. Posted March 15, 2009.

Congress is now considering legislation (H.R. 1018) that would amend the 1971 Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act, removing the limitations on areas where horses and burros can roam, requiring the creation of sanctuaries, bolstering the Bureau of Land Management’s horse and burro adoption program, and changing the circumstances and methods by which free-roaming horses and burros could be removed.
           Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry Voyles told a congressional committee that the legislation would change how free-roaming horses and burros are managed and could result in adverse impacts to wildlife and habitat, as well as to the horses and burros themselves. He offered several recommendations: 1) Continue to limit free-roaming horse and burro herds to the areas where they were found upon enactment of the 1971 act; 2) Make law and policy drive refinement of methods (such as techniques modeled after wildlife population census studies) to accurately assess free-roaming horse and burro populations and accurately set “appropriate management levels” (AMLs) for horse and burro herds; 3) Federal agencies should continue to use AMLs as target numbers for managing free-roaming horse and burro herds; 4) Law and policy should facilitate research into innovative tools for herd management, including efficient removal and fertility control, continued use of tools such helicopters for inventory, roundup and removal efforts; and 5) Congress must appropriate funds sufficient for the management of free-roaming horse and burro herds within AMLs and the land’s capacity to support them, as one component of diverse and thriving ecosystems.  For information, contact Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000. Posted March 15, 2009.
          GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive have been working with Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates, Inc. to develop conceptual plans for a Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Memory Park. Existing exhibits, located on the east side of Scottsdale Road, just south of Jomax Road, will be incorporated into the new park's exhibits. The new park will provide information about the history of the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills area. Sydnor's firm is located in downtown Scottsdale and is currently designing the new City of Scottsdale Appaloosa Library that will be located at the former Rawhide location (sw corner of E. Pinnacle Peak and N. Scottsdale Roads).
          At their February 4th meeting, Doug Sydnor reviewed the project narrative and conceptual and character plan drawings for the Memory Park (click to view drawings) with the design committee. The group will meet again in late February to review the final conceptual plans and implementation cost estimates.
          The design project is being funded by GPPA and Friends, using funds raised from Cookout at the Ranch, Friends of the Community donations, and A Peek at the Peak magazine. For additional information about the park, call GPPA at (480) 361-6498 or visit www.scenicdrive.org. Posted: February 11, 2009.
          The Cave Creek Unified School District has announced that Ciara Petronzio, a sixth grade student at Desert Arroyo Middle School has been named one of our state s top two youth volunteers in the 14th annual Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards, a nationwide program recognizing young people for
outstanding community service. Ciara will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved
silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C. for several days of special
recognition events in early May. Only 102 young people nationwide, one middle
level and one high school student in each state and the District of Columbia,
receive this honor. For additional information, contact Nedda Shafir, Public
Information Officer, at (480) 575-2063, nshafir@ccusd93.org. Posted: February 12, 2009
         GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive have opened "The Peak's Amazon Store." The online store enables visitors to purchase books written by local authors, some of whom contribute articles for publication in A Peek at the Peak magazine. Writers will also find books that will help them improve their writing skills. The store also showcases books about local history, flora, and fauna. GPPA receives a small commission from Amazon for purchases made through the storefront. Proceeds of the store support GPPA's causes. For more information, visit the store. Posted: January 23, 2009.
          Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak member Linda Babb hosted Nadera Admadzai, president of the Rotary Club in Kabul, Afghanistan, while Admadzai attended a conference at a local resort. Adhadzai is an MD graduate of Kabul University and is attending George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar, working on her MPH Masters of Public Heath Degree. Nadera presented a research paper at the conference. Rotary International is a 104 year old service organization with clubs in over 200 countries around the world. The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak meets each Thursday at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale, at 12 noon for lunch. For information, please call Pat Wolfe, club president, at (480) 585-0587.  Posted: February 12, 2009. To see advertisement from The Peak, click on "thumbnail" >>>
        The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak recently learned that Bill Gates has announced that he's making an additional contribution of $255 million to Rotary's Polio Plus fund. Polio Plus, the most ambitious program in Rotary’s history, is the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. For more than 20 years, Rotary has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of this crippling disease. Of the amount contributed by Gates, $100,000 is to be matched by Rotarians by the year 2012.
         Rotary International and its partners are on the brink of eradicating polio worldwide. In 1985, when Rotary began its campaign there were 350,000 polio cases in 125 countries. Today, polio is endemic in four countries, the lowest in history. The countries are Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Historically, polio has been the world’s greatest cause of disability. If polio isn’t eradicated, the world will continue to live under the threat of the disease. More than 10 million children will be paralyzed in the next 40 years.
        The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak has weekly luncheon meetings at the Pinnacle Peak Country Club. For information about the club, check the club's Community Events listing. Posted: January 23, 2009.
         Scottsdale Public Library continues to see increase in users. In November 2008, library usage was up 24 percent compared to the previous year. In addition, new customers to the library were up five percent. Patrons continue to take advantage of new technology, with Wi-Fi usage up 34 percent and the downloadable book service usage up 65 percent. The library is also offering a new service that allows customers to make an appointment to meet with a librarian for in-depth research issues. Reservations are available online or via phone for one-on-one help with business research, homework, job searching and reading interests. Posted: February 12, 2009
         McDowell Sonoran Conservancy has announced that tools were delivered to remote sections of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. On Feb. 5, a helicopter airlifted and deposited strong boxes and sets of work tools to pre-selected sites throughout the interior of the Preserve. Paid for by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the construction of the strong boxes, work tools and the use of the helicopter will save time and effort during work projects at remote sections of the Preserve. Volunteers and City staff will no longer need to carry the tools into the work site and can spend resources more effectively. The value of this donation to the Preserve is in excess of $20,000. Posted: February 12, 2009
         GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive have a new community service that actually puts the "fun" into our fundraising, and it won't cost service users a penny. GPPA now has its own travel Web site, which can be accessed from the Book Travel/Shop section of this site.
          This service is like having our own Expedia® just for our supporters and friends! Everything needed is right there. You can access to the same airlines, hotels and rental car companies, cruises and vacation packages that you'll find on all the other major travel Web sites, and you'll benefit from some of the lowest travel prices on the Internet!
          Here's How it Works - every time you use a travel Web site like Expedia®, the travel companies pay commissions for your reservation. When you book travel on our Web site, GPPA will receive royalties from YTB totaling a whopping 60 percent of those commissions! With your help and other GPPA supporters like you, we can raise funds to thousands of dollars to support the nonprofit missions of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association and Friends of the Scenic Drive. Remember to bookmark the site, www.ytbtravel.com/gppatravel, to its handy the next time you want to travel (and also help a good cause). Posted: January 16, 2009.

To see advertisement from The Peak, click on "thumbnail"  (PDF) >>>
         GPPA and Friends of the Scenic Drive has retained Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates, Inc. to develop plans for a Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Memory Park. Existing exhibits, located on the east side of Scottsdale Road, just south of Jomax Road, will be expanded and improved to create the park. The new park will provide information about the history of the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills area. Sydnor's firm is located in downtown Scottsdale and is currently designing the new City of Scottsdale branch library that will be located at the former Rawhide location. For additional information about the park, call GPPA at (480) 361-6498 or visit www.scenicdrive.org. Posted: January 16, 2009.
         The Heard Museum North Scottsdale has announced that its Let’s Talk About series will be held every Tuesday thru March 17th at 11:30 a.m. Covering a wide variety of topics about American Indians, the series provides a forum for the community to interact with experts and hear about a variety of topics. This lunchtime learning series offers something for everyone! Enjoy the lecture, and then enjoy lunch in the café. For more details, including a description of scheduled lectures, visit the Events section of this Web site. Posted: January 16, 2009.
         Friends of the Scenic Drive has unveiled new Web site graphics and navigation to make the popular site easier and more enjoyable to use. The site, www.scenicdrive.org, originally came online in 1996, making it one of the first nonprofit sites in Arizona. The site provides "a treasure trove" of information about the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, Sonoran flora and fauna, and things to see and do in our community, the Valley of the Sun, and Arizona. Friends of the Scenic Drive is now a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) and the latest round of enhancements also integrates the Scenic Drive site with this site. Posted: January 16, 2009.
               GPPA invites you to the inaugural “A Peak  at the Theater” on Saturday, February 7th (Note. 1/12/2009 ... Full House, no more seats available for this night). Les Conklin, GPPA’s president says, “If you’ve never enjoyed a show at the Black Box Theater, this is an opportunity that you don’t want to miss, and IT’S FREE.” Les continues, “My wife and I have enjoyed performances staged by the Desert Foothills Theater for years and we’re always amazed at how good this community theater is. The actors are usually terrific and watching them in the intimate Black Box Theater has made their performances even more enjoyable. Personally, I cannot think of a better way to thank The Peak’s readers, advertisers, volunteer writers, photographers, and distributors than to introduce them to the Desert Foothills Theater and have them enjoy Neil Simon’s comedy, “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” Don’t be shy. Seating is limited. Call (480) 488-1981 to reserve, and click on The Peak advertisement to the right for more information.  Posted: December 14, 2008.
          The Scottsdale Fire Department says that U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 240 home fires annually caused by Christmas trees, according to a national study. These fires cause an average of 16 deaths, 25 injuries and $13.1 million in direct property damage annually. Here are fire safety tips keep you and your loved ones safe during the holiday season: (1) If you choose a fresh tree, put it in a sturdy stand far away from heat sources, and keep it watered. (2) Water it constantly. A 6-foot tree will use 1 gallon of water every two days. A dried out tree can be totally consumed by fire in less than 30 seconds. (3) Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways. (4) If you purchase an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled as fire-retardant or resistant. (5) Use only flame resistant materials to trim a tree. (6) Holly and mistletoe can be fatal to a small child; and the smaller the child, the smaller the dose that can cause serious medical problems. Poinsettia leaves are not fatal if swallowed, but can cause a skin rash and an upset stomach. (7) Don't overload electrical outlets. Use no more than three sets of lights per single extension cord. (8) Always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to sleep. (9) Make sure all of your home's smoke alarms are in working order and have fresh batteries!

          The following link provides a demonstration showing how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be as opposed to a tree watered regularly. This test was conducted by the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories. For additional safety information, visit the Fire Department's Web site at http://www.ScottsdaleFD.com or call (480) 312-FIRE. Posted: December 14, 2008. 
 
          The City of Scottsdale says that its efforts are paying off to reduce fuel consumption in city vehicles. The latest data shows an 11.9 percent drop in municipal fuel usage this fiscal year compared to last. According to the city, direct cost savings are hard to calculate because of the changing price of fuel, but conservation efforts have clearly made a difference. The city's fleet management division has begun a shift to smaller vehicles and has hosted employee seminars that stress such tips as consolidating trips and reducing vehicle idling time. The city has set a goal to reduce overall fuel consumption in its vehicles by 15 percent. Reducing fuel use does more than just save money. National studies show that each gallon of gas used produces about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. For information on Scottsdale preservation and environmental programs, visit: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Topics/EnvironmentPreservation.asp. Posted: December 14, 2008. 
 
          The Game and Fish Department will be stocking the 224-acre Tempe Town Lake with almost 24,000 rainbows through March. Trout are also stocked throughout the winter in such places as the Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, the Verde River between Cottonwood and Camp Verde, and Oak Creek. For a complete winter stocking schedule, visit www.azgfd.gov. Posted: December 8, 2008.
          Arizona’s bald eagles have begun their breeding activities, and outdoor recreationists are asked to help protect important breeding areas by honoring the closure of 21 areas across the state. Land and wildlife management agencies close the areas for part of the year, beginning in December, to protect the state’s 48 breeding pairs. Some of the closure areas are located near popular recreation sites. “Even though the bald eagle is doing well in Arizona, they still require the public’s help to reproduce successfully,” says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. “Human activity near active bald eagle nests can cause a breeding pair to leave its eggs uncovered, leading to a failed breeding attempt. It can take only 30 minutes for a breeding attempt to fail.” For information, contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District at (480) 595-3300. Posted: December 8, 2008.
           Friends of the Scenic Drive, a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) thanks the sponsors, organizers, exhibitors, and many individuals and businesses that helped make Cookout at the Ranch XIII a success. (Learn Who They Are). Special thanks to the ever-dependable volunteers who have supported this annual event since its inception (Learn Who They Are). Posted: November 14, 2008.
           Southwest Wildlife offers unique holiday and birthday gift ideas, adopt or sponsor an animal that is under its care. It's a great way to help your child or grandchild learn to appreciate wildlife and it's a gift they will always remember.
          Sponsorships provide money to help care for the animal of your choice. Sponsorship of any animal is $30. Sponsors receive a personalized sponsorship certificate, and a 4 X 6 photo of the animal sponsored. You may choose to sponsor animals such as a porcupine, skunk, gray fox, javelina, deer, bobcat, and more.
          An adoption donation will provide a portion of the funds necessary to care for an animal for an entire year. In reality, those annual costs may be much higher. For example, it costs over $3,600 per year to care for one mountain lion! Adoptive parents receive a personalized adoption certificate, bookmark, special greetings* throughout the year (*email address required to receive special greetings); and other items depending upon the level of adoption.
           For more information about Southwest Wildlife and these programs, please visit www.southwestwildlife.org. Posted: November 14, 2008.
          The Arizona Heritage Project under the direction of Cactus shadows high School teacher Barbara Hatch recently received the Spirit of Literacy Award from the Scottsdale Public Library. Three students represented the project at the award presentation: Caitlin Campbell, Patrick Ward, and Carolina Nick. To learn more about the program, visit www.srpnet.com/community/azheritage.aspx. Posted: November 10, 2008.
          The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy recently received a $100,000 grant from Arizona Public Service in partnership with REI and Boeing companies. The grant will be distributed over four years. It will pay, in part, for an environmental program coordinator who will work with families and children in the preserve. The goal will be to introduce youth to the Sonoran Desert and instill the importance of being good stewards to the natural environment. The program will include a camp, hikes, lectures, and hands-on experiences, plus a partnership with local schools and the Conservancy. For more information on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Preserve. Posted: November 10, 2008.
          Pinnacle Peak Park provides a terrific opportunity to learn about the plants, animals, geology, archaeology, and local history on a moderate, 2-mile hike. Every day except Monday, park staff provides guided education talks starting at 10 a.m. at the park, 26802 N. 102nd Way. Please call (480) 312-0990 if you have questions.  Posted: November 10, 2008.
          The Arizona Elk Society has partnered with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to increase the reward for information regarding the poaching of two bull elk near Ash Fork. Arizona Elk Society is matching the reward offered by Operation Game Thief; bringing the total possible reward to $8,000. The two elk were poached in Game Management Unit 10, north of Ash Fork, on Sept. 24. After killing the elk, the poachers removed the antlers from the animals and left both elk to rot in the field. “This incident is the most senseless act I’ve investigated in the past 15 years” said Scott Poppenberger, wildlife manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It really demonstrates the vulnerability of the resource to abuse by disrespectful criminals. I want to be clear: the individuals involved with this incident are not sportsmen.” Game and Fish investigators have collected a substantial amount of physical evidence in the case that will help identify the suspects. “If you’ve heard anyone discussing this incident, or if you saw anything suspicious in the area or know where these individuals are, we ask that you contact us.” Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Operation Game Thief at (800) 352-0700. Posted November 14, 2008.
            Friends of the Scenic Drive volunteers cleared 13 miles of roadside litter on Saturday, October 18th. Former Friends president, Edie Shannon and volunteer Tim Horn both recounted that a Scottsdale police officer stopped at their respective cleanup locations and thanked them for their service. The officer asked Edie, "How long have you been doing this?" Edie replied, "For 14 years". Friends of the Scenic Drive was one of Scottsdale's first Adopt-A-Road partners and is responsible for the largest section of road in the City of Scottsdale. The Desert Foothills Scenic Drive is the northern-most sections of Scottsdale Road, covering from Happy Valley Road t o Carefree Highway. The effort was managed by Edie and BJ Shannon, Howard and Carol Myers, and Horst Berkner. More than 40 volunteers participated. The group's next cleanup is December 6th and volunteers are welcome.

           Friends continues to develop plans for a Scenic Drive Memory Park that will include exhibits related to Desert Foothills history, people, places, and preservation. The November issue of A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) magazine provides a description of the preservation exhibit. For the latest information about the exhibits, including the preservation exhibits, visit the Scenic Drive Web site and click on Memory Park.

           Friends of the Scenic Drive is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. Posted: October 18, 2008.
          Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced that black-tailed prairie dogs have been returned to a historical site in Arizona. Nearly 50 years ago, they vanished from Arizona’s landscape, but thanks to a multi-partner reintroduction effort, black-tailed prairie dogs are making a comeback. Seventy-four black-tailed prairie dogs captured at the Ladder Ranch in New Mexico were recently released into the wild in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita. The reintroduction aims to repopulate these animals to where they once existed in Arizona. The animals used to reestablish black-tailed prairie dogs in Arizona were chosen based on their similar genetics to the population that previously existed in the state. Acclimation cages were used to prevent the animals from dispersing too quickly upon release and to allow them to adjust to their new environment. In time, the animals will burrow themselves out of the acclimation cages and be free to establish an underground network of tunnels. Black-tailed prairie dogs are approximately 15 inches long and weigh 2-3 pounds. These tan animals with black-tipped tails are highly social, living in coteries or family units. Family groups live close together to form larger colonies or towns.
          Scottsdale’s Adopt-A-Road program needs volunteers to help remove trash from the sides of roads. These volunteer efforts not only help to beautify our city, but save tax dollars too. Call (480) 312-6280 for details. Posted: October 6, 2008.
          Scottsdale's Solid Waste Management Department has advised residents that holiday wrapping paper, bows and ribbons mess up recycling collection. They are not recyclable and don’t belong in mauve recycling containers and should be placed in the black garbage containers. Plain, cardboard gift boxes can be recycled. Need more information? Call the department at (480) 312-5600.Posted: October 6, 2008.
          The City of Scottsdale says there are a number of ways to save water and they are start with you. Consider a cover for your swimming pool to reduce water loss through evaporation. For more conservation tips, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com or call (480) 312-5650. Posted: October
6, 2008.
          The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak recently delivered 200 reference dictionaries to third grade students at Palomino Primary School in Phoenix. The Rotary Club feels this is a valuable educational tool and are committed to the concept that reading is the basis for all learning, by giving each student their own dictionary. “Students learn to read until the third grade, but from the third grade on they read to learn.”
          The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak is made up of local business and professional leaders. It is part of a worldwide organization that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
          The club meets each Thursday at 12 noon till 1 p.m. at the Pinnacle Peak Country Club, 8701 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. Visitors are invited to attend a luncheon meeting and hear great speakers and learn more about Rotary. Potential New Members are welcome. Further information is available on the club’s Web site www.pinnaclepeakrotary.org, Posted: September 25, 2008.
          The Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale will be displaying a Shelter Box and related equipment at Cookout at the Ranch XIII. The club has purchased a Shelter Box that will be sent to a disaster area somewhere in the world when needed. Shelter boxes contain a 10-person tent and ancillary equipment designed to enable a family of up to 10 people to survive for at least six months.  The box costs $1000 and can mean the difference between life and death to disaster victims. During the recent natural disasters that occurred in Myanmar and China, a total of 1800 boxes were sent by Rotary Clubs throughout the world to these area.
          Rotary Club of Pinnacle Peak is made up of local business and professional leaders who are committed to providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, and helping build goodwill and peace in the world. 
          The Club meets each Thursday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, 8701 E. Pinnacle Peak Road in Scottsdale.  Visitors are invited to attend a luncheon meeting to hear great speakers and learn more about Rotary.  Potential new members are welcome.    Further information is available on the Club's website at www.pinnaclepeakrotary.org. Posted: July 13, 2008
     

Claire Miller (behind saguaro), Bob Cafarella, Scott Hamilton(with shovel)

     Scottsdale's Preservation Division won the SRP Environmental Stewardship Crescordia during Valley Forward's 28th annual Environmental Excellence Awards program on September 6. The award recognizes sustained environmental performance, singled out three employees – Preservation Director Robert Cafarella, Preserve Manager Claire Miller and Trails Planner Scott Hamilton - for their roles in bringing the vision of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve to reality.
          More than a decade ago, Scottsdale citizens initiated the vision for what ultimately will be the preservation of approximately 36,400 acres of Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert. When completed, the preserve will encompass nearly one-third of the city's land area and will be one of the largest urban preserves in the country. The Preservation Division was recognized for guiding the ongoing stewardship of the preserve, managing planning for the future and for exemplifying a commitment to preservation of the Sonoran Desert.
         The Preservation Division also worked closely with and assisted the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust , the grassroots, volunteer-driven non-profit organization that works in tandem with the city on the preserve, was the recipient of Valley Forward's President's Award in 2005. The organization has since changed its name to the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.More information on the Valley Forward awards and local winners is available at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/News/09-11-08.asp.  Posted: September 14, 2008.

          The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s real-life data shows that the bald eagle population in the state has been growing four percent annually Paradoxically, a demographic model recently developed by the department predicted that the population at best would remain stable or would have declined at a rate of 3.6 to 5.5 percent (depending on the data input) during the same period. In reality, bald eagle numbers over the past 30 years have grown more than 400 percent in Arizona with the number of breeding pairs increasing in that time from only 11 pairs to 56 in 2008. The state also welcomed a record 53 fledglings to the skies this year, a 26 percent increase over 2007. For additional information, contact the department at (623) 236-7575. Posted: September 14, 2008.
          Arizona Game & Fish has announced that on September 3, 2008, the first Gila topminnow fish were reestablished in their native Arizona waters as part of a new program aimed at enlisting the help of non-federal landowners to conserve this endangered species. More than two hundred fish were released into the TimBuckTwo pond near Amado, south of Tucson, on private land. The fish for this inaugural release came from Arizona State University (ASU), where breeding stock is maintained for the species. In addition to ASU, Desert Harbor Elementary School in Peoria also maintains a captive population of Gila topminnow.
          “These fish were once common in southern Arizona below 5,200 feet, but populations declined due to habitat loss and competition from non-native species,” says Jeff Sorensen, native fish and invertebrate program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Today’s stocking is particularly important because these fish are of the rare Redrock lineage that only existed in captivity until today. This release will help us increase the numbers of this important lineage.”
          Gila topminnows prey on mosquito larvae and help to control mosquito-borne illnesses. As a native species, they pose fewer threats to other species sharing the same habitat than non-native species that have been introduced in the past. They grow to approximately two inches long and are the only native fish in Arizona to give birth to live young. They prefer shallow, slow-moving waters, and they were once the most common fish species in the Gila River basin. Posted: September 14, 2008.
          The Arizona Game and Fish Department reports that captive desert tortoises are being abandoned or illegally released back into the wild when people can no longer care for them. “We cannot stress enough how detrimental it is to both the captive and wild tortoises to let a captive tortoise go free in the wild,” said Cristina Jones, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s turtles project coordinator. “Captive desert tortoises can transmit diseases that harm wild populations, and captive tortoises aren’t prepared to find food and water in an unfamiliar area and often die.” The public is advised not to handle desert tortoises. Under the Endangered Species Act, the desert tortoise is recognized as a threatened species in parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. If a person sees a tortoise, he or she should not remove the animal from its habitat. People who can no longer care for their desert tortoise should contact the Phoenix Herpetological Society at (602) 550-7029 or the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (623) 236-7767. Posted: August 10, 2008.
          A Musical Instrument Museum is being planned for the Desert Ridge area of northeast Phoenix. According to Minell Sefelt, who writes The Peak's "Here and There in Art" columnist, the museum will eventually display approximately 5,000 instruments from virtually every nation on earth. The building will house a recital hall, research and conservation offices, and a restaurant. Musical clips and videos will give visitors a chance to hear instrumnets being played. 
          Bill De Walt is the president and director of the museum. Robert Ulrich, chairman and chief executive of Target Corporation, is credited with conceiving and guiding the museum's development. , The museum will be located on the southwest corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevards,
          Wild At Heart welcomes first captive bred cactus ferruginous pygmy owls. Four new fledgling owls were welcomed this spring from two pairs of adult cactus ferruginous pygmy owls. The breeding program is part of an experimental research project to investigate the possibilities for recovering the species. It is carried out by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in conjunction with Wild At Heart, a raptor rescue and rehabilitation center supported by GPPA. After monitoring last year’s unsuccessful captive breeding attempts, several changes were implemented that proved important this year, including a change in the nestbox design, adding a substrate to the nestbox, and the installation of cameras to monitor the pairs and their eggs. The pygmy owl was previously considered an endangered species from 1997 to 2006. The birds’ status is currently being reconsidered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pygmy owl is less than 7 inches tall and weighs about 2 ½ ounces. It nests primarily in woodpecker holes in saguaro cactus found in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. These little birds are aggressive hunters that eat reptiles, insects and small birds and mammals. Posted: June 17, 2008.
          Scottsdale's Parks and Recreation division recently launched the Scottsdale Sports Complex Web site: www.ScottsdaleSportscomplex.com. This complex is a state-of-the-art, 71-acre competitive sport facility offering tournament level playing conditions. The facility accommodates a variety of flat field sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football, Ultimate Frisbee and rugby. The site also provides tournament and league coordinators with detailed information about the facility, including an opportunity to search available dates and times. In addition to sports fields, the complex has a full, lighted basketball court, a shaded playground, multi-use paths and open park space for drop-in public use as well as a public art component and two restrooms.
          For more information, contact Sr. Recreation Coordinator Jona Davis at (480) 312-7520 or jdavis@ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Posted: June 17, 2008.
          The Scottsdale Pride Commission asks, "What's the No. 1 littered item in the world?" Cigarette butts! Billions are discarded on roads and sidewalks, and in parks. What's more, cigarette butts are not biodegradable. The Scottsdale Pride Commission, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, asks you to do your part. If you smoke, please use your car ashtray, take a second to find a proper receptacle where you can dispose of a cigarette butt or keep a pocket ashtray with you when outdoors. Posted: July 13, 2008.
          Game and Fish Department credits aggressive on-the-ground management to a soaring growth in the Bald eagle population in Arizona. Bald eagle numbers over the past 30 years have grown more than 400 percent with the number of breeding pairs increasing in that time from only 11 pairs to 56 in 2008. Studies indicate the bald eagle population in central Arizona has been growing at a rate of 1.3 breeding areas per year since 1978. The department believes bald eagles in the state have reached population levels where existing threats do not endanger it with imminent extinction. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, a leading partner in recovery efforts for the species, attributes the success to cooperative on-the-ground management. Through the Southwest Bald Eagle Management Committee (SWBEMC), a broad coalition of 23 government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes, a plan is in place to help ensure the continued success of the bald eagle population in Arizona. Posted: July 13, 2008
          Pinnacle Peak Park has a weather station with temperature and rainfall being reported twice daily to the National Weather Service. A new station is currently being added which will provide wind speed, humidity and a rain gauge that records both rain amount and when it fell. Hikers in the park will find this new information useful for safety purposes and will also provide staff with environmental data for flora and fauna studies.  Posted: June 17, 2008.
          The Scottsdale Fire Department encourages residents and businesses to take steps to protect their property and loved ones from dangerous wildfires. Residents and businesses are encouraged to do their part in helping reduce the risk of a brush fire by following these simple tips: Create a 30-foot fire safety zone around your home and other structures; this zone should be an area free of dried or dead grass and vegetation, Trim your trees and remove any dead branches or leaves, Keep your gutters, eaves and roof clear of leaves and other debris, Keep a rolled-up garden hose with a nozzle attached to outside hose valve connections, Properly dispose of cigarettes, When camping, follow local agency rules for campfires; do not build a fire without making sure open fires are allowed, and always follow fire safety information, Add a spark arrester to off-road vehicles and other small internal combustion engines, such as generators.
          For current fire restrictions go to www.azstatefire.org or call (877) 864-6985. For information on invasive plants, home safety checks lists and additional wildland prevention resources, visit www.ScottsdaleFD.com or call (480) 312-FIRE (3473). Posted: June 17, 2008.
          The Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Memory Park is moving closer to reality. Horst Berkner and Marg Nelssen have contributed proposed layouts for the park's exhibits that will provide information about the history of the Desert Foothills area. During the summer months, The Peak magazine will be used to provide information to the community about the design of the proposed park. The May/June issue includes the initial layouts that have been created by Berkner and Nelssen. The article also provides details about the park's introductory exhibit. Read Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Memory Park, Part I.
          The City of Scottsdale is planning to sell $120 million in voter-approved general obligation bonds, mainly for capital projects such as public facilities and roads. In preparation for the sale, three major bond rating agencies have reaffirmed the highest possible ratings for Scottsdale’s general obligation bonds, and one of the agencies has upgraded ratings for another variety of bonds used for land purchases in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Scottsdale had requested the ratings reviews from the agencies, Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and Fitch, in preparation for bond sales to be finalized in May. About $20 million will fund land acquisitions in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Scottsdale also is planning to sell about $110 million worth of Municipal Property Corporation bonds to pay for water and sewer projects. Posted April 13, 2008.
          The City of Scottsdale airs green building programs on Thursdays City Cable 11. Please see the program schedule for times at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/citycable11.asp. Posted April 13, 2008.
          Foundation for Senior Living offers home energy audits. For information, visit www.azhomeperformance.com or call (602) 532-2976 ext. 1. Posted April 13, 2008.
          The Scottsdale Fire Department encourages residents, businesses and building contractors to prepare for upcoming warmer weather and wildfire season. Residents can help keep their neighborhood and the community safe by providing proper defensible space around homes and following the city's wildfire prevention guidelines to ensure protection of Natural Area Open Space. The Fire Department also is providing builders a series of guidelines that will help prevent and control wildfire incidents near local construction sites. Brochures are available at the city's One Stop Shop and other service counters or at fire stations. For more information on fire prevention, visit www.scottsdalefd.com or call (480) 312-FIRE. Posted April 13, 2008.
          The Scottsdale City Council has approved a series of dust control measures designed to bring the Valley into compliance with EPA air quality standards for particulates - fine dust particles that can harm health. The controls affect unpaved areas, vacant land, off-road vehicles and leaf blowers. Two of the measures approved last Tuesday by the City Council will go into effect on April 18. They are: 1) limits on leaf-blower use (landscapers and homeowners will be prohibited from using leaf blowers to blow debris onto public streets), 2) broadened prohibitions on ATV use (all-terrain and off-road vehicles generally will not be allowed on unstabilized surfaces, even if riders have the owner's permission to use the vehicles on private property). Additional measures, such as requirements to either pave or treat unpaved parking lots and driveways will take effect within six to 18 months. Scottsdale is developing a list of approved surface treatments for dust control, and will be seeking public input on the types of stabilizers or palliatives that would be effective. More information on the approved dust-control measures is available at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/asset20016.aspx. Posted March 11, 2008.
 
       Paper or plastic? Next time you grocery shop, ask for paper. Plastic grocery bags are the No. 1 contaminant in the Recycling Program. Paper bags can be recycled and also can hold loose items. Better yet, consider purchasing reusable bags to bring your groceries home. For more information, call (480) 312-5600 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Posted March 11, 2008.
 
     Pinnacle Peak Park, the City of Scottsdale's largest park at 150 acres, welcomed its one millionth visitor on February 29th. The visitor, Kim Kucharski of Scottsdale, was greeted by Mayor Mary Manross, who presented her with an engraved walking stick to commemorate the feat. The engraving on the stick states: "I was the 1,000,000 visitor at Pinnacle Peak Park, Scottsdale, AZ." Kim is a teacher at Grayhawk Elementary School and was very surprised and thrilled at the achievement. She hikes the park five to seven days a week. To count visitors, the park uses two systems. The first is an electronic counter that records when people break a beam that is placed across the trail. The second is a hand counter. When both counts are tallied, the numbers are very close. For more information about the park, visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/Pinnacle.asp or call (480) 312-0990. Posted March 11, 2008.
           Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Enhancement Planning. Friends of the Scenic Drive is providing input to the City of Scottsdale on the planned beautification of the northern part of Scottsdale Road, known as the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Friends has invited representatives of HOAs and neighborhoods near the Scenic Drive to provide input at a meeting that will be held on February 27th. The article "Desert Foothills Scenic Drive" by Judith Wagman, the editor of the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak's newsletter, COPP News, introduces the Bond 2000 program and summarizes the enhancements being considered by the City of Scottsdale. "What Scenic Drive?" by Les Conklin, the president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, provides background information about the Scenic Drive effort. "How Good is Your Memory" by Desert Les proposes that historical exhibits be included as part of the enhancements and test readers' knowledge of local history. Posted February 10, 2008.
          Friends of the Scenic Drive representatives Horst Berkner, Herb Grasse, and Les Conklin met with Tim Conner and Madeline Clemann of the City of Scottsdale in early January to discuss future enhancements to the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive (Scottsdale Road from Happy Valley to Carefree Highway). Tim Conner, coordinates projects related to Scottsdale's scenic corridors and has worked with Friends on a variety of projects and issues related to the Scenic Drive. Madeline Conner is the city's manager of transportation services.

          Based on previous input that it has received from residents, Friends of the Scenic Drive, and city planning staff, the city is considering a number of enhancement options, including undergrounding utilities, creating a comprehensive trail system, landscaping disturbed areas and enhancing intersections. Friends has proposed that a series of "memory parks" that feature historical exhibits related to the various parts of Scottsdale be created along Scottsdale Road and has designed a memory exhibit for the Scenic Drive exhibit area, which is located on the east side of Scottsdale Road, just south of Jomax. Meanwhile, a group of Scottsdale artists have proposed a series of individual historical displays for other parts of Scottsdale Road. It was agreed that Friends would meet with the artist group to discuss combining their efforts. Friends also suggested that one or two additional memory parks could be established along the Scenic Drive, perhaps using available space adjacent to shopping centers, which would both provide parking and help the centers. An updated "Streetscape Design Guidelines for the Desert Foothills Drive" is available from the city and has asked for additional input from Friends by the end of April. Friends is seeking resident feedback on ideas for improvements, including development of historical exhibits. To participate or for additional information, E-mail preserve@scenicdrive.org or call (480) 361-6498. For more information about the overall Scottsdale Road   streetscape enhancement project, www.scottsdaleaz.gov/projects/CapitalProjects/ScottsdaleRd.asp. Friends of the Scenic Drive is a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. Additional information will be posted on this site in the near future. For additional information, also see August 2007 posting to Scene and visit www.scenicdrive.org. Posted January 14, 2008.

Scenic Drive "Obliteration" Update. Good news. The City of Scottsdale is now producing a transportation master plan for the city. As part of its analysis, transportation has run computer models using data provided by the Maricopa Association of Governments that factor in expected growth, probable traffic patterns in surrounding communities, etc. As a result of these studies, the designation of Scottsdale Road from Happy Valley north to Carefree Highway has been changed to four lanes, minor arterial. Pima Road from Dynamite Blvd. north to the city limit will have the same designation. The matter was discussed at the November 29th transportation commission, which voted 5-0 in favor of the change from six lanes. The changes were discussed and given informal approval by the city council at its December 11th meeting..  Friends of the Scenic Drive had opposed the widening of these road sections to six lanes (See October 15th post, "Friends of the Scenic Drive and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association ...").  The "minor arterial" designation should be very helpful in protecting the Sonoran character of the foothills. Posted December 18, 2007.

  Scottsdale Police are asking park users to be aware of what they leave behind in their vehicles when visiting Scottsdale's parks. A majority of vehicle burglaries are committed without any force. The following tips will reduce the opportunity of you becoming a victim of a crime: 1) Remove all valuables from your vehicle including purses, wallets, laptops, golf clubs, and personal items, 2) Secure items in the trunk if you are unable to remove them 3) Lock your doors and remove your keys from the ignition, 4) Consider installing an alarm system and using a steering wheel lock, 5) Enroll your car in the Watch Your Car Program at http://www.AZwatchyourcar.com. For more information contact the Scottsdale Police department at (480) 312-5000.  Posted December 15, 2007.                       

        Friends of the Scenic Drive and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association has formed a committee to design new "memory" exhibits for the scenic drive exhibit area that will include information about the heritage of the Desert Foothills and Pinnacle Peak area. The idea for the exhibits comes from the Pilgrims who were impressed by the Indians' simple, community-oriented approach to preserving and sharing local historical information.
            The exhibits will provide information about native peoples, mining, military, ranching, homesteading, annexation, preservation, and other topics related to our area’s unique past. Volunteer committee members include Horst Berkner, Judy Conklin, Les Conklin, Barbara Copeland, Herb Grasse, and Marg Nelssen. The committee plans to showcase their designs at Cookout at the Ranch. The new exhibit will be funded by the nonprofit organization. The public's support is welcome. For additional information, read "Let’s Create Our Own Memory Trail – Part I." Posted August 17, 2007

           The Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people, has launched an innovative online carbon calculator that allows people to better understand how their daily choices can affect global warming and the future of our planet. The calculator is distinctive in showing how individual choices and actions either increase or decrease a user's impact on global warming. It provides information about the choices people make each day in their homes, their travels, and even in their daily meals. Unlike other calculators, it puts these choices in context, allowing them to better understand the relative impact of their actions.
          The calculator also provides tips and suggestions for reducing emissions and allows people to compare their overall impact to national and worldwide averages. It estimates emissions of all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide. Because some of the gases that drive global warming and climate change stick around in the atmosphere for up to a century or more, today's actions will make a difference to several generations that follow. The carbon calculator can be found on The Nature Conservancy’s Web site www.nature.org/carboncalculator. Learn more about the Conservancy's climate change efforts at www.nature.org/climatechange/. For more information about the Conservancy's work in Arizona, visit www.nature.org/arizona.

            The Scottsdale Fire Department is urging residents to renew the batteries in their smoke alarms. With 70 percent of fire deaths occurring in homes without working smoke alarms, it is important to ensure you and your loved ones are safe. Change your batteries now and replace them if necessary. For more information on smoke alarms, contact Patty Jo Angelini, Fire Department public education officer, at (480) 312-1815 or www.scottsdalefd.com.

           The Phoenix City Council approved in February the State Land Office's final zoning case of the state land area west of Scottsdale Road, from Pinnacle Peak to Jomax roads. As part of the zoning case and with Scottsdale staff input, the State Land Office agreed to remove C-2 commercial zoning previously planned for the southwest corner of Jomax and Scottsdale roads, reduce the density of the majority of the land along the southern edge of Jomax to the original RE-35 (1-acre/DU) and approve scenic corridor setbacks along Scottsdale Road of an average width of 100-feet for commercial development and 50-feet for residential development zoning. GPPA, The Peak, and Friends of the Scenic Drive had lobbied against the upzoning of the Jomax property because it is on the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, which was established by residents in 1963. For more information, call Tim Conner, principle planner, (480) 312-7833, tconner@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.

            Paper or plastic? Next time you shop, ask for paper. Plastic grocery bags are the #1 contaminant in the City of Scottsdale's curbside recycling program. Paper bags can be recycled and also can hold loose items. For more information, call (480) 312-5600 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle. P.S. If you've ever picked up roadside litter, you know what a problem the plastic bags are in our Sonoran environment. They get stuck on the needles and thorns of our desert vegetation, which is not good for the vegetation or the volunteer!

           Friends of the Scenic Drive and the City of Scottsdale are discussing a series of improvements to further differentiate the drive and enhance its character, and Friends would like your input. Some of the ideas  are simple and relatively inexpensive to implement. Friends, a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, is anxious to move forward with these and has indicated a willingness to share in the funding where possible.

        Some improvements will require more study and possibly a larger comprehensive approach. As the list is refined and priorities are agreed to, staff and Friends will set out to develop work programs for the highest, most achievable priority enhancement ideas for implementation. Review Improvement List and Provide Feedback.

City of Scottsdale managers  and staff from the planning and transportation departments met with Friends of the Scenic Drive, a division of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), on August 4, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss future enhancements to the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive (Scottsdale Road from Happy Valley to Carefree Highway). The meeting was arranged by Tim Conner, who coordinates  projects related to Scottsdale's scenic corridors.
            A variety of improvements were discussed to reduce visual pollution and protect the desert roadsides. GPPA offered to help fund and implement improvements where possible. City officials agreed to develop a list of possible enhancements along with a schedule of implementation. Friends of the Scenic Drive and the city have worked together in the past on several enhancement projects, including re-vegetation and the painting of utility boxes, posts, the backs of traffic signs dark brown to reduce visual pollution. To learn more about these projects visit www.scenicdrive.org.

                  Phantom, pictured here with his mother at Dogman Ranch, was born on July 21, 2006, four days before this photograph was taken. The horses are owned by Don Leitzen. Don is a volunteer for Paw Placement, an Scottsdale-based nonprofit that rescues horses and dogs. For information about Paw Placement visit www.pawplacement.org or call (602) 712-1599.
       Dennis Liddel, North Scottsdale resident and professional photographer, was driving past the ranch during a July rainstorm when he noticed the pair of quarter horses. Dennis, whose wildlife photographs have been featured on The Peak's covers, donates his time to photograph the animals at Southwest Wildlife and Wild At Heart, organizations that GPPA supports with annual donations. You can contact Dennis at Unique Desert Photography (480) 563-0780 or delanmktg@cox.net.

Friends of the Scenic Drive and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) are integrating their activities and boards of directors. The merger of Friends into GPPA was approved by the IRS in 2003. Friends will continue as a division of GPPA. The integration will enable the 501 C (3) to more effectively accomplish its mission and community activities. These activities include publishing A Peek at the Peak magazine, organizing the annual preservation benefit, Cookout at the Ranch, maintaining and enhancing the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, conducting regular roadside cleanups, and making donations to causes supported by the group.

            GPPA thanks Edie Shannon for three years of outstanding service as president. During her term, Friends received the Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award for community leadership. Edie also led the effort to repaint plant exhibit signs and stones along the six mile drive, organized Friends’ roadside cleanups, and worked with the City of Scottsdale to minimize the environmental damage caused by the installation of the city’s new water line along Scottsdale Road between Happy Valley and Jomax Roads. Because of Edie’s leadership, last year’s preservation fund raiser, Cookout at the Ranch X, was one of the most successful to date, attracting 450 guests. Under Shannon’s guidance, Friends was merged with the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association. Edie, a long-time North Scottsdale resident, is a frequent contributor to A Peek at the Peak (The Peak) magazine (see Peak People for bio). To learn more about Friends, visit www.scenicdrive.org.

            Scottsdale First Assembly of God Dream Center opened it new complex at 28700 N. Pima Road (west side of Pima Road at Dynamite Blvd.) during March. It is a family oriented church, with services for all ages. It features children's education, summer youth programs, facilities for home school groups, and a cyclist stop. It will also provide opportunities for those interested in community reach out projects. The facilities will provide a place for Christian concerts and the performing arts. The grounds will include a pristine prayer garden and plein air painting for local artists amidst the beautiful desert. Pioneered by the Rev. David and Sharon Friend in 1999, the church has gone from meeting in hotels with two members to meeting in the Scottsdale Airpark with 1500 members in the span of 7 years. For additional information, including service times, call (480) 367-8182.

 

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Greater Pinnacle Peak Association
Scottsdale, AZ 85255