The Scene

 

Tidbits of Good Stuff, Breaking News

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. 

  

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Scenic Drive 50th Birthday Nears

North Scottsdale Landmark Linked to Preserve

Today, the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive is an important Valley landmark. Created in 1963 by residents of Carefree and Cave Creek, and later annexed into Scottsdale, it was one of the first preservation efforts in the Valley of the Sun. Its far-sighted founders sought to obtain scenic setbacks, showcase desert flora, preserve desert vistas, and to attract tourism. It was the first example of people "in the north" taking community action to preserve the natural environment. Remarkably, the drive has been maintained for much of its life by residents without government assistance. A forerunner of scenic corridors in Phoenix and Scottsdale, the drive's early leaders advocated successfully for the creation of scenic corridors. The drive's plant identification signs and exhibits are maintained by Friends of the Scenic Drive. Plans call for the drive's exhibit area and adjacent acreage to be included in Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Posted: January 1, 2012.

Online Vote Determining Cox Conserves Hero

1/17/2012 Editorial Note. Cox has informed MSC that the start of online voting has been delayed until 1/23/2012. This article will remain posted until voting ends, if you're  too early please return on the 23rd or later.

 

          Desert Foothills resident Jane Ran has been selected as one of three finalists of Cox Conserves Heroes Arizona. Jane, a past president of GPPA, was nominated as a hero for the local environment by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, which she co-founded.

          Three Arizona finalists were selected by a panel comprised of local environmental/community leaders in addition to a Trust for Public Land representative. The public chooses the winner by voting online from January 16th through February 6th. The winner receives between $5K to $10K to grant to an environmental nonprofit of his or her choice. The other two finalists will also receive a cash prize to donate to their environmental nonprofit of choice. Posted: Jan. 16, 2012.

Photos, Here & There

By Our Readers

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

View Photographs

 
        Marilyn Schletzer, The Peak magazine's proofreader and author of the column "Peak Fitness," writes a blog that healthy eaters or wannabe healthy eaters will enjoy. Recently, Marilyn e-mailed her readers and invited them to "Check out all the new stuff   at www.eatstreetusa.blogspot.com.  1)  Smaller Portions, Bigger World, 2) My Favorite Healthy Things: Spaghetti Squash, 3) My Favorite Healthy Things: Greek Yogurt, 4) My Favorite Naughty Things. Plus, read the comments and leave one of your own -- it's fun and easy, and instructions are included." Posted: September 5, 2011.
     Now you be the judge. The Peak has  posted many of the entries from its 2011 Summer Fun Tony Nelssen Photography Contest on its SmugMug Web site. See this year's winner "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner" by Margit Kagerer and many other entries. 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.  Posted: Posted: August 31, 2011
     GPPA has been named as a 2010 Constant Contact All Star for its use of  Constant Contact products and services to deepen its engagement with the community, members, advertisers, and supporters. For more information, read About All Star Award and  GPPA's press release.   Posted: July 23, 2011.
     

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

Try Reader/Shopper Digital Edition

Posted: March 2011
     The print edition of The Peak magazine now includes QR codes that enable smart phone users to quickly learn more about The Peak and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association, access our extensive community events calendar, and visit advertiser Web sites, just by picking up their smart phone and scanning the code.  If you haven't used 2D bar code technology, here's how to get started: 1) On your iPhone, download the application called Quickmark (for a Droid smart phone, download ScanLife), Launch this application and position the barcode within the viewfinder on your phone - it automatically connects you to this Web site. Using their smartphones, readers of The Peak can access this Web site's extensive events section. advertiser marketplace, and obtain advertising information.

     Advertisers can include their own QR codes as part of their advertisements. For additional information, contact The Peak. Posted: June 16, 2003.
     The San Francisco Giants will play 33 games in Arizona this spring, with the first against the Colorado Rockies on March 3 at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants, who have trained in Scottsdale since 1982, will embark on their 30th spring training season at Scottsdale Stadium. Last year, the team's overall attendance ranked second in the Cactus League, just behind the Arizona Diamondbacks. For the complete schedule, visit www.sfgiants.com. Posted November 20, 2011.
     Mexican authorities released five Mexican wolves in the San Luis Mountains in Sonora, Mexico, on Oct. 12, 2011, approximately 80 miles south of Douglas, Ariz. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been actively involved in the multi-agency effort to reintroduce Mexican wolves to portions of their historic range in the east-central portion of Arizona (and adjacent New Mexico) for many years. In 1998, 11 captive-reared Mexican wolves were released into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) in eastern Arizona. The current population in Arizona-New Mexico was assessed to be approximately 50 animals during 2011 monitoring. The Mexican wolf is considered endangered in the United States and Mexico. Game and Fish continues to express concern over the lack of progress in aspects of wolf conservation. Posted November 20, 2011.
     The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated flood insurance rate maps and owners and tenants of property preliminarily identified as lying in “special flood hazard areas” can appeal the accuracy of the data used for the designation. The data determines whether owners will be required to purchase flood insurance. The proposed new flood insurance rate maps identify about 700 properties north of Lone Mountain Road that are located within a special flood hazard area. Because of this new designation, affected property owners will be required to purchase flood insurance if they have a federally-backed mortgage.
Owners and tenants of affected properties wanting to appeal the proposed base flood elevations can do so until Jan. 18, 2012. The City of Scottsdale is mailing postcards to newly-affected property owners and tenants advising them of the appeals process. Posted November 20, 2011.
        Scottsdale Healthcare invites you to become an important link within your neighborhood by becoming a volunteer. Since 1962, Scottsdale Healthcare volunteers have been sharing their hearts and compassion with neighbors in their time of need. By becoming a volunteer, you will keep this longstanding tradition alive and be an important part of shaping the way medical services are delivered to you and your family.
        Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak opened in November 2007 with 64 private rooms providing general medical and general surgical care, emergency services and a wide array of services. We are committed to providing world class, personalized care for every patient and family member for a healthier community.
       If you or someone you know has been hospitalized, you know that it can be a stressful experience. The presence of a volunteer quietly supporting patients and family members is immeasurable. Assisting patients and families during hospitalization is invaluable.
        Like to help? Conact our Thompson Peak volunteer coordinator, Mary Masters at (480) 324-7053, mmasters@shc.org. Posted: August 31, 2011.

      Work has begun on the Carefree Town Center Botanic Garden in Carefree. Mark Wdowiak, pictured here,  is a  landscape architect and the owner of Desert Foothills Landscape. Mark is donating both his services and the materials, including  beautiful cacti. The project is expect to be completed in November, 2011. Posted: July 23, 2011.
     Be prepared for Monsoons. It's monsoon season, don't get caught unprepared on the road or at home. Most fatalities during storms occur in motor vehicles. Your home is generally one of the safest places to be during a severe storm. Plan ahead and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary during heavy rains or high winds. If you have to drive, don't drive into water - and obey all signs. At home, make sure you have a "ready kit" packed with a 72-hour supply of food, water and other basic needs. For more information, visit www.scottsdaleFD.com. Posted: July 23, 2011.
     Scottsdale Fire Department Offers Free Hands-only CPR Classes. Learn how to save someone experiencing cardiac arrest. The new hands-only CPR technique is easy, safe and does not require mouth-to-mouth contact. Hands-only CPR dramatically can improve a person's chance of surviving a heart attack. You'll also learn how to respond to a cardiac emergency -- including important tips for calling 911, perform chest compressions and how to use an AED. Various dates, times and locations are available. To view and register, visit www.Scottsdaleaz.gov/Fire/HandsOnlyCPR. Posted: July 23, 2011.
     The Boulders Resort Named One of Best Hotels in Phoenix. U.S. News & World Report announced its 2011 lists of the Best Hotels ( http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/USA/ ) These new lists rank the top luxury hotels across 49 travel destinations in the United States. The Boulders Resort was named one of the Best Hotels in Phoenix. Based on its exceptional reputation and very high marks from hotel guests, The Boulders Resort earned a spot on U.S. News’s most selective list, the Best Hotels in the USA. Travel writers applaud the resort's unpretentious ambience in the rugged Sonoran desert. Posted: July 23, 2011.
     Scottsdale Encourages Green Building Alternatives. The Scottsdale City Council recently adopted the International Green Construction Code as the core of the city's voluntary Commercial Green Building Program. This step makes it easier for developers of commercial and multi-family housing to "go green" -- a "whole systems" approach through design and construction techniques to: minimize environmental impacts, reduce energy consumption, incorporate renewable energy, conserve water and improve indoor environmental quality. The new code provides flexibility to adapt to Scottsdale's geographic conditions and environmental quality of life. Learn more about the newly adopted code at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Asset40666.aspx or http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Public+Website/greenbuilding/Checklist.pdf. Posted: July 23, 2011.
     Help Keep Scottsdale Safe by Becoming a Fire Department Volunteer. Join the Scottsdale Fire Department family! You can help keep children, adults and seniors healthy and safe. Find out how you can join our volunteer team by calling Patty Jo Angelini at (480) 312-1815 or visiting http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/Volunteer_Opportunities. Posted: July 23, 2011.
        Volunteers Needed! The Desert Center at Pinnacle Peak, in operation in North Scottsdale for over thirty years, conducts a stewardship program to encourage elementary school children to discover, understand, embrace and protect the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
        Desert Center “Discoverers” (volunteers), staff learning stations visited by the children during their Desert Center learning experience. Our program is presented in a six-station learning format: Basic safety & survival; a narrated audio-visual overview of the Sonoran Desert; Animals, including live snakes (non-venomous) and tortoises; The Hohokam; Desert plants, utilizing specimens in our desert garden; Rocks & Minerals of Arizona.
        It is not necessary that you be a professional educator or authority on the desert. A desire to learn more about the Sonoran Desert and share what you learn is necessary. We encourage you to choose one or more areas that interest you and join us to share the Desert with Valley kids.
        Each school year, from October through April, our program is conducted two to three mornings a week and is approximately three hours in duration. Your program commitment is up to you. If your schedule only allows you to join us once a month, we’ll take it!
        The Desert Center conducts its program at 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road. To learn more, call Donna Ropp at (480) 473-0338. Posted: May 14, 2011.
         The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy has released a new video showcasing the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Click below to watch video. Posted May  14, 2011. 

         http://youtu.be/eF9LDxf6h5s 
        Scottsdale Water Quality Report Coming Soon! Look for your annual Water Quality Report from Water Resources in your mailbox in June. There’s lots of great information in this informative report. You’ll learn how our dedicated staff ensures your tap water is safe to drink every day, where our water comes from and how it’s treated, plus get great water conservation tips. Scottsdale is committed to providing high quality, safe and reliable drinking water to you every day. For more information about your drinking water quality, call (480) 312-8732 or visit our Web site at www.ScottsdaleAz.gov/water/quality. Posted: May 10, 2011.
        Scottsdale Fire Provides Wild Fire Home Protection Advice. As the temperatures heat up, the desert grasses that grew with spring rains are drying 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. Posted: May 10, 2011.
        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 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/planning/NeighborhoodResources/Mediation. Posted: May 10, 2011.
        Know someone with a disability and who wants to get involved in community recreation programs? Scottsdale’s Adapted Recreation program offers social clubs, dances, Special Olympics sports, leisure education classes and a range of other programs for people with disabilities of all ages! For more information, call (480) 312-2234 or go to www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/adaprec. Posted: May 10, 2011.
        Water . . . Use it Wisely! The next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water use plant for year-round landscape color. By doing so, you can save up to 550 gallons of water each year. For more ways to save water, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/arizona. Posted: May 10, 2011.

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

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

http://www.facebook.com/scottsdaleazgov.
        Scottsdale Residents Can Earn a Free Bike. Don’t have a bike? Residents can earn a free bike by contributing just 20 hours of volunteer time through the city’s Handlebar Helpers program. The program is open to both children and adults, who can volunteer at local schools, non-profit agencies or city locations. You must be a Scottsdale resident and/or volunteer in Scottsdale to participate. Participants who volunteer 20 hours are awarded a bike, helmet and a lock. To participate in the program, fill out an “earn a bike” enrollment form at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/assistance/handlebar or call (480) 312-0002.  Posted: June 4, 2011.
        Scottsdale Named as One of Top 25 Art Destinations. AmericanStyle magazine released results of the 2011 Top 25 Arts Destinations readers’ poll. For the fourth year in a row, no other major city in the country has been able to unseat the Big Three: New York City held on to first place in the Big Cities category, with nearly 40 percent of all votes cast; Chicago remained in second place, with 23.4 percent; and Washington D.C. stayed in the No. 3 spot, with 20.2 percent. San Francisco came in at No. 4, followed by Boston at No. 5. In the Mid-Size Cities category, St. Petersburg, Fla., held on to the No. 1 spot with 26.9 percent of the vote. Former sixth place city Savannah, Ga., leapfrogged into the No. 2 spot, pushing last year’s second place finisher New Orleans down a notch to No. 3. Rounding out the top five in this category are Charleston, S.C.,
at No. 4, and Scottsdale, Ariz., at No. 5. The tightest voting margins played out in the Small Cities category, with Asheville, N.C., winning by a hair with 16.7 percent of the votes over No. 2 Santa Fe, N.M., with 16.5 percent. Third place went to Gloucester, Mass., a newcomer to the Top 25 list, which pushed Saugatuck, Mich., down a notch into fourth place. Sarasota, Fla., held its position at No. 5. In the Big Cities Category,
Phoenix came in at No. 15 and Tucson was ranked No. 18. Sedona ranked No. 6 in the Small Cities Category. (AmericanStyle.com, May 26). Posted: June 4, 2011.
     Scottsdale Fire Department reminds residents to protect home from wild fires. As the temperatures heat up, the desert grasses that grew with spring rains are drying 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. Posted: April 7, 2011
     Watch children around water, warns the Scottsdale Fire Department. 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, 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. And keep a phone by the pool to call 911 in case of an emergency. Visit www.ScottsdaleFD.com for more water safety information. Posted: April 7, 2011
     Got a question for the City of Scottsdale? Chances are, city information has an answer City information is just a phone call away by dialing 312-3111. The number connects you with live operators who have the 4-1-1 on event, traffic, department and meeting information. They can also connect you to the right people for further assistance. The line is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and for special events as publicized. So, the next time you have a question about the city, dial the city information line: (480) 312-3111. Posted: April 7, 2011
     The City of Scottsdale suggests that residents to get fit at Scottsdale’s aquatic centers. Are you looking for an economical way to get fit? Here’s an idea -- there are fitness centers at all Scottsdale aquatic centers. It’s only $2 to drop in and work out. For hours and more details, log on to www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics or call (480) 312-2771. Posted: April 7, 2011
     The City of Scottsdale has announced several recreational opportunities at the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. Swim lessons are under way at the center. Lessons are conducted Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday for four weeks. Each class is 30 minutes long and is offered at various times between 2:45 and 5 p.m. The center hosts a variety of swim and diving classes. The registration fee is $22 per session for residents and $33 for non-residents.
     Also, check out the recreational swim team at McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. If your children enjoy the water, invite them to join the spring recreational swim team at McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. This program will develop, enhance and sustain swimming skills and strokes, yet maintain a recreational and competitive environment. Participants must be able to swim 25 yards in all four competitive strokes.
     Finally, there’s still time to sign up for a water aerobics class at the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. Classes are 50 minutes long and are offered at several morning and evening times during weekdays.
     For more information on any of these opportunities, call (480) 312-6677 or visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks. Posted: March 2011
     The City of Scottsdale says that "recycling makes cents." Recycling benefits us all by preserving landfill space and by recovering and reusing non-renewable resources – and it also makes economic sense. By participating in Scottsdale's Curbside Recycling Program, residents can lower the city's cost of providing residential solid waste services. Lower costs mean lower service fees to residents. Since its inception in 1996, the program has diverted more than 371,109 tons of material from the landfill. The cumulative savings to our residential customers through the sale of recyclables and the avoided cost of discarding this material is $13.2 million. To learn more about the curbside recycling program, contact Solid Waste Management at (480) 312-5600 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/recycle. Posted: March 2011.
  

 
 

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Greater Pinnacle Peak Association
Scottsdale, AZ 85255