Community Spirit: Twin Sisters Create Art To Inspire Change

Squirrel’s Stories — These days 15-year-old Sierra and Sophia Smith share more than just a bond of being twin sisters.  The Hamilton High School sophomores now share a piece of art called Hands of Freedom. Art, they hope inspires change. “Hands of Freedom originally started off with my sister just putting a bunch of hands on a canvas. A painting … Read More

Inspirational Story of the Day

By Recker McDowell — We need positive and uplifting stories these days. One of those is from Boston where Danielle Geathers has been elected student body president at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Geathers, who is from Miami, is the first African American woman to be elected student body president in MIT’s 159-year history. She is majoring in mechanical … Read More

Guest Editorial: RIP Metrocenter

By Recker McDowell — Metrocenter Mall is closing. The north Phoenix mall opened in 1973, once included an ice rink and was one of the film locations for Keanu Reeves’ Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Metrocenter will close later this month. It joins Fiesta Mall in Mesa on the list of zombie malls. There are and have been redevelopment plans … Read More

Community Heroes: Partners for Paiute Navigates COVID-19, Neighborhood Needs

By Recker McDowell — For Lynn Whitman and others involved with the Partners for Paiute community and nonprofit group in Scottsdale, COVID-19 and all its impacts have hit fundraising and prompted some quick pivots. “We canceled our annual fundraiser which basically is our most significant fundraiser,“ said Whitman, who is president of the Partners for Paiute board of directors. Partners … Read More

Disqualifying David Ortega For Mayor

The Scottsdale Charlatan Led The Opposition To The McDowell Sonoran Preserve In 2004. There aren’t many things nearly everyone in Scottsdale can agree on.  Good weather.  The Indian Bend Wash.  And the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  The Preserve came about because of a courageous vision in the 1990s to increase the city sales tax to set aside the city’s most beautiful … Read More

Gloves Are Off In Scottsdale

With early voting starting in about three weeks for Arizona’s August 4th primary it’s about that time when the attacks start flying.  And, Scottsdale is no exception. Intruding on the orthodoxy of not attacking another in a multi-candidate field, Scottsdale City Council candidate Betty Janik took aim at former City Manager and fellow candidate John Little in this Scottsdale Independent … Read More

Important Scottsdale Lessons Learned

Politics and development can both be important aspects of life. And, like most everything else, it helps when you live and learn. That certainly appears to be the case for a recent redevelopment proposal, tentatively labeled The Scottsdale Collective, for an area of largely non-descript buildings east of Scottsdale Road and south of Camelback. It’s mostly known today for numerous … Read More

Guest Editorial: The Economics of Masks and COVID

By Recker McDowell — The debate over masks and the rise in COVID-19 cases in Arizona has become very political. It shouldn’t be. The motivation for wearing a mask (if it is not about protecting the health of seniors and your neighbors) should be about the economy and jobs. We get that the lectures and pushes for mask mandates from … Read More

Signs in Scottsdale: The Best & Worst Campaign Ones So Far

Best Phoenix Suns Look: Becca Linnig Best Photo:  Scottsdale Marlboro Man John Little Best Glam Shot:  Lisa Borowsky Best Dropping Of First Name To Help People Think It Is My More Popular Wife Running For Mayor:  Bob Littlefield Worst Design That Looks Like It Was A Cocopah Middle School Student Council Sign:  Michael Auerbach Best Sign By Worst Mayoral Candidate:  … Read More