The Peak Magazine
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Founded
as a Scottsdale, Arizona magazine, A Peek at the Peak's logo is a stylized outline of Pinnacle Peak,
North Scottsdale's most distinctive
mountain. A "refreshingly different" magazine founded in 1983,
The Peak has been a distinguishing part of the Pinnacle Peak and Desert
Foothills community since 1983. By and for that community, it is the
only magazine dedicated to quality of life, education, desert
preservation, wildlife conservation, and the arts in the North Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave
Creek, Rio Verde, and northern Phoenix areas. The Peak,
a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 publication, is provided as a community service by
the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), which was founded in 1977. The magazine,
which received national recognition in 2006 and 2009 when the Society of
National Association Publications named it an EXCEL Award winner,features original
articles by local writers about local organizations, community events, local history, Sonoran plants, animals, restaurants, galleries, and people.
If you own or manage a
local business, join the many other businesses that benefit by advertising in The Peak. Advertisements
in The Peak not only attract customers but they enable advertisers to
be part of an established community tradition. By placing ads,
advertisers foster desert preservation, wildlife conservation, the arts,
education, and community service. Advertisements and GPPA Friends fund publication of The Peak magazine, which provides a voice
for local writers.
About The Current Issue
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July-August
2009 Issue
Click on Mountain Lion for Online Edition |
The Greater
Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) thanks you and the advertisers, members
(Friends of the Community), writers, photographers, and volunteers who make this
magazine possible. Because of your support over the last 26 years, A Peek at
the Peak (The Peak) has evolved from a newsletter enjoyed by a few
hundred people living in the then remote Pinnacle Peak area to a unique,
two-time national award-winning nonprofit magazine “by and for the people” and
nonprofits of the north Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek, northeast Phoenix, and
Verde communities. Much has changed since 1983, but The Peak and
e-Peak, our electronic newsletter, remain a “labor of love” and a free
community service provided by the GPPA, which was founded by Pinnacle Peak
residents in 1977. You can support The Peak and our community efforts by
advertising in The Peak, shopping our online store for photos, books, and
travel, or becoming a Friend of the Community. Towards the rear of the
magazine, you will find information about becoming a Friend and the benefits
you’ll receive.
The theme of this
issue is “Our Wildlife.” Our cover photograph, “Tocho,” was taken by north
Scottsdale
resident Dennis Liddell. Tocho is a male mountain lion, seven years-old, and
under the care of Southwest Wildlife. Dennis Liddell is a professional
photographer and frequent contributor, who has donated many of the terrific
wildlife photos that have graced The Peak’s cover. You can view and
purchase Liddell’s work at www.liddellimages.com. You can contact Dennis at
dennisliddell@cox.net. We also thank Tony Nelssen and Sandie McCune for
designing and creating another memorable cover.
Theme Articles
We begin this issue
with a reminder that the deadlines for GPPA’s 6th Annual Summer Fun
Write Stuff and Photography contests are July 31st. Once again, there are youth
and adult divisions for each contest and excellent prizes for top entries. For
more information and to enter, see the article and advertisements in this issue.
Incidentally, this year you will be able to view top entries and order prints by
visiting the Book Travel/Shop section of GPPA’s Web site.
Our first two theme
article can help you enjoy the summer. The next time you go for a walk or hike
in the desert take the article “Wildlife Tracks in the McDowells” by Leonard
Marcisz. Use the pictures of wildlife tracks and droppings to identify coyotes,
bobcats, quail, and more. The second article, “Learn About Bats, See Bat Flights
This Summer” describes free workshops that are being offered this summer by
Arizona Game and Fish. Sounds like fun.
Our last two theme
articles are provided by Southwest Wildlife and Wild At Heart. “Juan Peron”
describes Southwest Wildlife’s efforts to save a young coyote that has been
treated as a pet by well-meaning people. Wild At Heart’s column, “On The Wild
Side” is written by William LeRoy and discussed efforts to re-establish the
California condor in Arizona and elsewhere. LeRoy’s article was previously
published in The Peak. The U.S. Fish and Game Service requested through Wild At
Heart that the article be re-published to help educate the public about the
ongoing condor effort. It and “Juan Peron” are very interesting “reads.”
There’s More!
In addition to the
above theme articles, you will find a variety of articles, some serious and some
not so serious, in this issue of The Peak. For example, you can learn about
Cactus Shadows graduate Cody Williams. Cody was awarded GPPA’s annual education
grant for his contributions to the environment and outstanding community
service. In addition, we’ve re-published The Peak’s award winning editorial “On
the Road to Groundhog Land.” The pieces are timely, as developers have now filed
two Scottsdale General Plan Amendments that will contribute to the spread of
urban sprawl into the Pinnacle Peak and Desert Foothills areas. You’ll also find
information about our Summer Fun Photography and Write Stuff contests.
In addition to other interesting local news and articles, you'll find these
columns in almost every issue:
- Arizona Cowboy (humorous poetry about the West)
- Dining Out (review of local restaurants)
- Dog Daze (pet dog describes the challenges of daily life)
- Far From Home (experiences of two Scottsdale residents who do business training
abroad as volunteers)
- Government 101 (a look at development issues that impact our community)
- Here and There in Art (review of local art exhibits and galleries)
- Hoof Beats (keeping the community posted on the local equestrian scene)
- A Peek at Fitness (advice for keeping in peak condition)
- On the Wild Side (articles about rehabilitation of great horned owls,
hawks, and other raptors)
- Community Scene
- Community Events
If you need a product or service, why not contact a local business that supports GPPA. You'll find those
businesses listed in our Advertiser Sections.
Editor
The lead articles of every issue of The Peak are based on a theme.
The themes of the year's issues are listed below.
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January - Have The Peak Year
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February - Snowbird Fun
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March - Pet Party
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April - Our Desert
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May/June - Summer Fun
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July/August - Our Wildlife
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September/October - Our Community Groups
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November - Winter Fun
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December - Peak Gift Issue
In addition to theme-related content, you'll find articles by local writers, interesting columns, information
about upcoming community events, and the latest GPPA news in this Scottsdale, Arizona magazine.
At Local Outlets
You can pick up your free copy of The Peak magazine at more than
60
convenient locations in North Scottsdale. These locations include
supermarkets, banks and stores. At supermarkets you will find copies of
the magazine in free standing magazine racks, usually near the store entrance.
At offices, salons and stores the magazines are usually in the reception area in
table-top racks. Supermarket locations include:
- AJ's Supermarket at AJ's center at Pinnacle Peak, Thompson Peak/Frank
Lloyd Wright, Pima and Union Hills Road, Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain
Road
- Basha's at Grayhawk Shopping Center, McDowell Mountain, Carefree
- Safeway at DC Ranch, The Summit, Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale, Tatum Road
- Walgreen's at Grayhawk Shopping Center, Terravita Marketplace, Dynamite
and Alma School in Scottsdale
To find the location most convenient to you , consult Where
You Can Find The Peak.
Online
The current version of The Peak is also available online. To view the
magazine, simply click on the link below.
View
Online Version of The Peak
Mail
GPPA mails free copies of The Peak to all its members. By
becoming
a GPPA Friend of the Community, you will be contributing to deserving community causes while
saving time and gasoline.
All
current Peak advertisers are listed in the Marketplace section of
this site and their advertisements appear in both the print and online editions
of the magazine. If you don't have a print edition hand, "thumb" through the
online version and review the advertisements.
Peak advertisers can choose to gain additional exposure by having their magazine
advertisement published also posted on a separate page on this Web site. Click on the link to the right to view information about these
companies and organizations. Let them know you appreciate their support of
The Peak and GPPA by using their products and services.
GPPA thanks this issue's advertisers. Every year, GPPA donates money to a variety of
nonprofit organizations and awards a college grant. It is the support of advertisers and members
that made those donations possible.
Review The Peak's Advertising Kit online or download
and print for later use. It provides all the information you need to make
a decision and get started.
Download, View,
Print Ad Kit
The Peak has been a "labor of love" since 1983. If you love to write and are looking for an enjoyable way to serve the
community, we hope you will consider contributing articles to The Peak.
Almost all of the articles that we publish are written by local residents who
donate their work to support the objectives of GPPA. You can meet some of them
in Peak People.
The Peak's Amazon Store provides
a resources for writers.
Writer Guidelines are designed to assist
writers who plan to assist their work to The Peak.
Editorial Calendar for 2009
All articles and other copy must be submitted by the dates shown below.
Earlier submissions are appreciated. Late submissions may be withheld
until a future issue.
| Issue |
Editorial Close Date |
Theme |
|
January |
December 1 |
Have The Peak Year |
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February |
January 1 |
Snowbird Fun (26th Anniversary Issue) |
|
March |
February 1 |
Pet Party |
|
April |
March 1 |
Our Desert |
|
May/June |
April 1 |
Summer Fun |
|
July/August |
June 1 |
Our Wildlife |
|
September/October |
August 1 |
Our Community Groups |
|
November |
October 1 |
Winter Fun |
|
December |
November 1 |
Gifts from The Peak |
For more information about writing articles for The Peak, advertising
in The Peak or obtaining copies of The Peak, please do not
hesitate to contact us.
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