PHOENIX (September 11, 2026) – The Phoenix Symphony announces that single tickets are on sale for its 2026/27 Season, the organization’s 79th anniversary season, featuring an exciting new chapter in the Symphony’s history with newly appointed Virginia G. Piper Music Director Designate Paolo Bortolameolli.

Bortolameolli, who was announced as the Symphony’s new Virginia G. Piper Music Director Designate in March 2026, brings an international perspective and dynamic artistic vision to the orchestra as it begins this new era.

The 2026/27 Season offers more than 35 performances spanning beloved classical masterworks, acclaimed guest artists, Phoenix Pops® favorites, blockbuster films with live orchestra, holiday traditions, chamber music, family programming and special experiences throughout the Valley.

“This season represents an extraordinary moment for The Phoenix Symphony as we begin a new chapter with Music Director Designate Paolo Bortolameolli,” said Peter Kjome, President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony. “This season offers something for everyone, from the great composers and masterworks that define the symphonic tradition to the films, artists and contemporary experiences that bring new audiences to the orchestra. We invite our community to experience this season with us.”

 A New Chapter Begins

The 2026/27 Season opens with newly appointed Virginia G. Piper Music Director Designate Paolo Bortolameolli, who leads The Phoenix Symphony in Paolo Conducts Rachmaninoff & Prokofiev, October 9–11 at Symphony Hall. The program features Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by celebrated pianist Olga Kern, a Gold Medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and Prokofiev’s powerful Symphony No. 5. The program opens with Glinka’s dazzling Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla.

Among the season’s other Classics highlights are Beethoven’s 7^th Symphony and Chopin’s 2^nd Piano Concerto; Schumann and Barber; Bruch and Mendelssohn with concertmaster Rolf Haas; a celebration of John Williams’ 95^th birthday; Bortolameolli leading The Rite of Spring; Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with pianist Joyce Yang; and Mahler’s 5^th Symphony.

Guest conductors and artists throughout the season bring additional perspectives and extraordinary talent to the Symphony stage, including Joyce Yang, Michelle Cann and Bella Hristova.

 Phoenix Pops®

The 2026/27 Phoenix Pops season welcomes Stuart Chafetz as the Symphony’s new Principal Pops Conductor, making official a relationship with Phoenix audiences that has become a favorite over the years.

The Pops lineup offers an eclectic mix of legendary music, contemporary favorites and spectacular live experiences, beginning with Music of the Knights: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John & Sir Paul McCartney.

Additional highlights include the Holiday Pops Spectacular, The Music of Paul Simon, Cirque Adventure with Troupe Vertigo, The Taylor Swift Symphonic Experience, Mandy Gonzalez Sings Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Symphonic Genesis & Phil Collins.

Photo by Jaron Quach for Tavit’s Photography

 Films, Special Performances and New Experiences

The Symphony’s popular film concerts return with some of cinema’s most memorable scores performed live by The Phoenix Symphony.

The season includes Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl™ in Concert, Elf™ in Concert, E.T.™ in Concert, Top Gun: Maverick™ in Concert, and Raiders of the Lost Ark™ in Concert.

The season also features special performances including Final Symphony: Music from Final Fantasy, bringing the music of the iconic video game series to Symphony Hall; Fleetwood Mac: A Symphonic Tribute, celebrating the legendary band’s timeless music; and SYMPHONYFUSE: MAHLER X NOTORIOUS B.I.G X 2PAC, continuing the Symphony’s exploration of innovative musical fusions.

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Fennemore and Gallagher & Kennedy (G&K) will join forces Dec. 1, 2026.

This landmark law firm combination will provide clients across Arizona and New Mexico access to a broader bench of lawyers and legal services, including Fennemore’s proprietary technology and innovation platforms through Project BlueWave AI.

Together, and operating under the Fennemore name, these two firms will unite their deep roots in Phoenix and long-standing relationships with the businesses, industries, and communities that have helped shape Arizona. G&K adds established relationships and significant experience in natural resources, environmental, water, business law, and litigation, as well as an established New Mexico presence through its Santa Fe office. The combined firm will include more than 300 lawyers and legal professionals in Phoenix and more than 800 across its broader platform.

“Both Fennemore and Gallagher & Kennedy have played an important role in the growth of Phoenix and Arizona for generations,” said James Goodnow, CEO of Fennemore. “It is rare to have the opportunity to bring together two firms with this much history, this caliber of talent, and such strong client relationships. We know each other, we respect what each firm has built, and we believe we will be even better together.”

“Uniting is a significant opportunity for our clients and our people,” said Kevin O’Malley, managing partner and shareholder of Gallagher & Kennedy. “Gallagher & Kennedy has built its reputation on strong relationships, practical counsel and a deep understanding of our clients and the communities we serve. Joining Fennemore will give our clients access to additional resources and capabilities, while giving two groups of people who know and respect one another the opportunity to work as one team.”

Electronic Music Duo Joins Alaskan Franks and Walter Productions for a Full Day of Music, Polo and Entertainment Nov. 7 at WestWorld

The 15th annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships has found the soundtrack for a milestone anniversary, with electronic music duo Phantoms set to bring its mix of house and indie-dance to WestWorld of Scottsdale this November.

Phantoms, featuring Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola, will headline the DJ lineup at the nation’s most-attended polo event Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, bringing even more energy to a day already packed with international polo, fashion, luxury cars, live entertainment and over-the-top experiences. Local duo Alaskan Franks, which includes Ladell Ransom and Frank Terry, will join Phantoms on the DJ lineup, giving Arizona talent time in the spotlight alongside the nationally touring headliner.

The music continues after the last polo match when Walter Productions rolls out Kalliope, its massive mobile sound stage, for the Sunset After-Party. Known for creating immersive experiences on a grand scale, Walter Productions has established a strong presence in Arizona’s entertainment scene with its music venues, production and fabrication work, and unmistakable fleet of oversized art cars. Since 2009, the Walter Productions team has taken its larger-than-life creations beyond the Valley to festivals and events across the country. The full entertainment lineup gives Scottsdale Polo Party guests plenty to listen to between matches — and another reason to stick around until, and after, dark.

“Walter Productions is proud to be part of the 15th annual Polo Championships,” said Walter Productions’ Kirk Strawn. “As always, the event brings some of the most eclectic and innovative cultural contributions to our Valley.”

Kaplan and Pergola launched Phantoms in 2016 and have spent the decade since building a sound that combines house, indie-dance and alternative electronica.

“Just a Feeling” featuring Vérité, from Phantoms’ self-titled debut album, spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on U.S. Dance Radio and set a record on SiriusXM BPM’s Top 20 countdown. Phantoms followed its successful debut with the 2019 Disconnect EP featuring dance-chart hit “Say It,” and earned support from some of electronic music’s biggest names, including Pete Tong, Diplo, Duke Dumont, Martin Garrix and Jai Wolf.

This year’s event will pit England’s Select against Dark Horse Dallas in a first-ever Scottsdale matchup. The championships will also feature The Arizona Polo Club and New Orleans Polo Club squaring off in the opening match, along with Army vs. Navy in the Semper Fi Heating and Cooling Military Matchup just days before Veterans Day.

Past attendees will also find plenty of new elements at this year’s festivities, including Best of the West: The Inaugural Arizona State Acoustic Guitar Championships, and the event’s first-ever rugby match between the nationally ranked Scottsdale Blues Rugby Team and San Diego Old Aztecs.

Guests can also check out an Arizona wine tasting experience, a new on-site sports bar and cigar lounge with Million Dollar Mingle and the Scottsdale Polo Party’s first Western Pleasure Competition with the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

Fashion will also again hit the field with Phoenix Fashion Week’s “The World’s Longest Catwalk,” Lugari Pet Salon’s Canine Couture dog fashion show and a new Cowgirl Couture show from Franklin, Tennessee-based Moo Country. Million Dollar Mingle will return as its own “event within the event,” while Riot House DayClub and the Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge will give guests even more places to kick back and take in all the action.

Then, as the sun sets over WestWorld, the Sunset After-Party gets underway.

“The music has become a huge part of the Scottsdale Polo Party,” said Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships General Manager Mary Turner. “Phantoms bring exactly the kind of energy we want for our 15th anniversary, and pairing them with Alaskan Franks and Walter Productions gives people yet another reason to come out for polo and stay all day.”

Festivities will begin Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5 and 6, with welcome parties and VIP receptions for sponsors, players and ticketholders taking place before the main event hits WestWorld Saturday.

Tickets start at $45 and are on sale now at ThePoloParty.com, along with additional information about tables and sponsorship opportunities. Premium experiences include Prime, a Luxury Tent Experience by Bentley Scottsdale, Neiman Marcus, Barrett-Jackson and Maple & Ash; The Scottsdale Maserati Drivers & Players VIP Lounge; the Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge; All Access passes; and Sideline Parking packages.

The Arabian Horse Association (“AHA”) today announced the appointment of Taryl O’Shea as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 11, 2026. O’Shea succeeds lifelong Arabian horse trainer and breeder Stan Morey, who announced his retirement earlier this year after serving the organization with distinction for six years as Executive Director and previously as Commissioner since 2009. O’Shea will lead AHA’s strategic direction, operations, and long-term growth initiatives.

“Taryl brings the leadership, vision, and operational experience—both within and outside the Arabian horse industry—required to guide AHA through its next chapter,” said Lisa Blackstone, President of the AHA Board of Directors. “During our search process, we sought a leader capable of balancing our vision for the future with the change management required to make that vision a reality. Taryl’s passion for and experience with the Arabian horse, combined with her deep executive management background, make her uniquely suited for this role.”

“I am honored and thrilled to join AHA at such an important moment,” said O’Shea. “The mandate coming out of the Convention last year was clear—we need to unite our breed and execute a growth plan. This organization has such an important mission to fulfill. I look forward to working with the Board and our dedicated staff to position AHA for success in a 21st-century world. We must become relevant to a broader audience while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the association.”

O’Shea brings more than 25 years of experience in the Arabian horse industry. She previously served as Executive Director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona for more than two decades, where she successfully managed and led the internationally recognized Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. She has also served as Director of the Global Champions Arabians Tour – Americas, in addition to holding leadership roles in the automotive industry. O’Shea has been a member of AHA for nearly three decades.

Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in business marketing, and executive education programs from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania.

As CEO, O’Shea will focus on several strategic priorities, including:

• Unite – Unifying the broad and diverse community of Arabian horse owners, breeders, and enthusiasts
• Revamp – Refreshing how the Arabian horse is perceived by highlighting its beauty, athleticism, emotional intelligence, and rich history
• Market – Providing industry leadership in the promotion and marketing of the Arabian horse
• Grow – Expanding participation and significantly growing the Arabian horse community
• Innovate – Transforming Arabian horse shows into dynamic experiences that are fun, rewarding, entertaining, educational, and competitive for exhibitors and spectators alike

The Board also extends its appreciation to Stan Morey for his leadership and contributions to AHA during his tenure and for his commitment to ensuring a smooth leadership transition.

On September 15, the Mesa City Council unanimously approved a development agreement for Legacy Park and Gateway Crossing. The vote was not close, and it was not contested. At roughly $3 billion in private investment, this is the largest private project in Mesa history. Moreover, the council paired the agreement with annexation, zoning changes, an infrastructure agreement, and a new theme park district. Vestar’s 200-acre plan now has a clear runway.

Photo Credit: AZ Big Media

What Actually Gets Built

The site sits east of Ellsworth Road near Mesa Gateway Airport, between State Route 24 and Williams Field Road. Plans call for a 600-room luxury resort and a 150-room boutique hotel. Add 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and fitness space. There is also 3.8 million square feet of office space and 2,261 apartments. Meanwhile, a 20-acre public park and a pedestrian tunnel under Williams Field Road anchor the public side. Construction is expected to begin in early 2028, with the first phase opening in October 2029.

The Numbers Mesa Is Betting On

Applied Economics projects $58.8 billion in economic activity over 30 years. The same analysis estimates more than 13,500 jobs and $1.4 billion in city tax revenue. Thirty-year forecasts from paid consultants always deserve a raised eyebrow. However, the financing structure is the part worth noticing. Developers advance the public infrastructure costs and get reimbursed from tax revenue the project itself generates. In other words, Mesa is not writing a blank check up front.

Photo Credit: AZ Central

Another Chapter in the Mesa Revival

For years, Mesa was treated as the quiet neighbor in this valley. That reputation is badly out of date. Semiconductor suppliers have planted flags along the Gateway corridor. Data centers followed. Downtown, ASU’s Mesa City Center campus turned a sleepy Main Street into something with foot traffic and a pulse. Legacy Park is not an outlier, then. It is the latest entry in a decade-long run of Mesa saying yes to things.

The Contrast Is Hard to Miss

Meanwhile, other Valley cities spend years litigating whether a project belongs. Mesa took a generational proposal, ran it through the process, and approved it without a dissenting vote. Reasonable people can debate incentives, traffic, and water. Still, there is a lesson in a council that can actually decide something.

Mesa has room to grow and the political will to use it. Legacy Park is what that combination looks like on paper. In 2029, residents will find out what it looks like in concrete.

Mesa deserves praise for approving a project whose time has come, as judged by the enthusiasm from elected officials and those that they represent.

By Vice Mayor Maryann McAllen

Recently I attended a reception for the book, “Hands-on History , Residents Reflect on Scottsdale’s 75 Years”.  It was filled with the Who’s Who of Scottsdale. Former Mayors, local business leaders, and civic volunteers, all of whom had a hand in shaping our beautiful city. The guests included many of the 75 writers who shared their personal stories about their own Scottsdale history.

Looking around the Civic Center Library, where I had studied as a child, I was struck by the remarkable range of people who shared my love for Scottsdale. Our collective experiences have helped shape and strengthen this community. At my table were the superintendent of Scottsdale schools, the president of the Historical Society, and a former City Department Director. Although all from different backgrounds, we were united by a commitment to public service.

Authors and attendees exchanged hugs, tears, and heartfelt respect. Their stories revived memories, inspired smiles, and offered newer residents—those with fewer than my six decades in Scottsdale—a chance to learn about the city’s history. The reception also provided an opportunity to meet local heroes, including Carla, known as the mother of “The Preserve”; Jim Bruner, who helped create the TPC; and Joan Fudala, Scottsdale’s historian.

As I read about Scottsdale’s history, I thought about the future of our city and what that will be. Most importantly who will lead us into the future while protecting what has been built.

Scottsdale deserves visionary leadership grounded in service to the community rather than personal ambition. It needs someone who pursues meaningful results instead of headlines and leads with steadfast principles. Raoul Zubia is that leader.

Please join me in voting for Raoul for City Council. Scottsdale needs his decades of dedication and willingness to work for his fellow residents – now more than ever.

By Alexander Lomax

Picture the scene. A man selling window washing rolls through a gated north Scottsdale community on a Segway. It is a hot desert afternoon, and he knocks on a door to ask for water.

In most places, that story ends with a glass of water. Here, it ended with a bullet in his back.

What Police Say Happened

According to court records, 80-year-old Patrick McBride grew suspicious and told the salesman to leave the private community. The salesman stayed nearby, looking for his wallet. McBride then went back inside, got a handgun and confronted him again.

The salesman was shot in the lower back. He suffered a spinal injury and has lost feeling in his legs. McBride faces a felony aggravated assault charge, and his bond was set at $150,000.

McBride tells a different story. He says the man rode the Segway toward him while raising a phone, and that the gun went off during contact. The salesman says McBride drew first and fired as he tried to leave. A court will sort that out, and McBride is presumed innocent.

Threat Level: Segway

Still, let’s be clear about the scene. The alleged menace was a guy on a Segway, selling clean windows, who wanted a drink. That is not a home invasion. That is a normal weekend afternoon in Scottsdale.

A defense attorney interviewed by local TV put it bluntly. Going back inside for a gun and heading out to find someone, he said, looks less like self-defense and more like hunting.

What Is Wrong With Us?

Here is the part that should bother everyone. This did not happen in a vacuum. We have trained ourselves to see every stranger as a threat. Doorbell cameras ping our phones all day. Neighborhood apps turn a delivery driver into a suspect. Gates promise safety and deliver suspicion instead.

Meanwhile, a working man may never walk again.

Scottsdale calls itself the West’s Most Western Town. For generations, the code of the desert was simple. When a thirsty traveler shows up, you give him water. Nobody asks for a résumé first.

We Can Do Better

Nobody is saying you have to invite a solicitor in for lunch. Say no thanks. Close the door. Call the HOA, or even the police, if you must.

However, a gun should never be the answer to a knock and a question. If asking for water has become dangerous, the problem is not the salesman.

Scottsdale is better than this. It is time we started acting like it.

By Carla, Preserve Pioneer

There are lots of big things going on right now but sometimes it’s important to pay attention to the smaller details as well.

What am I talking about?

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the natural treasure that defines our city, has been demoted to an item of lesser importance.

In the past, when referring to our Preserve, the city powers that be, showed it the respect it deserves by capitalizing the “P”. Now however – despite repeated requests not to – it has been downgraded in all city press releases, to a lower case item. It’s now just a preserve, not the Preserve. It doesn’t seem to matter that the Preserve is short for the full name, McDowell Sonoran Preserve  – which is still capitalized.

The explanation is that under the “AP style” that’s how things are done. I’m not an English major, but shouldn’t substance matter more than style? Besides, the all knowing internet says that “official nicknames for places should be capitalized because they act as proper nouns”.

For years, the Preserve was capitalized by city staff, whether using the full name or nickname. We need to return to that practice.

The small details in how we write, do matter. Because they set the tone for how the thing being referred to is viewed and treated. How do we expect the next generation to show respect for all the Preserve brings to our quality of life – if we won’t do it ourselves?

Our Preserve is turning thirty-two on October 3^rd. Maybe as a birthday present we should give her back a capital P!

Carla , Preserve Pioneer

By Ronald Sampson

Nobody expected Apache Junction to teach Scottsdale a lesson in public education yet here we are.

While Scottsdale Unified debates which neighborhood schools to close, Apache Junction Unified has quietly done something clever: it stopped treating families who use Empowerment Scholarship Accounts as a lost cause. Instead, it started treating them as customers.

What Apache Junction Built

The program is called AJUSD FLEX. Families using ESA funds can buy into the district a piece at a time. A high schooler can take a single class for credit for $600 a semester. Athletes can join a team for the same price. Meanwhile, elementary students can attend in-person classes for $450 a semester.

The logic is simple. That ESA money is already leaving the district, and Apache Junction decided to win some of it back. In other words, the district looked at the world as it is, not as it wishes it were.

You can love or hate the voucher program. Either way, it isn’t going anywhere soon. The only real question is which districts adapt.

What Scottsdale Unified Built

SUSD, by contrast, has a closure list. Seven schools are under consideration after enrollment fell 23% over the past decade. A public hearing is set for September 22, and the board plans to decide in October.

Parents are already poking holes in the district’s math. One mother told the board that Laguna Prep’s capacity was presented as 638 students. She says the real number is 891. That is not a rounding error.

A Football Team Tells the Story

Then there is Saguaro. The program has 14 state championships. This fall, however, it had only 35 players and could not field freshman or junior varsity teams. After a 62-0 loss to Desert Mountain, the district canceled the Battle for Scottsdale against Chaparral, citing player safety.

That call was probably right. Still, it should alarm everyone. When a football dynasty in Scottsdale cannot fill a roster, many families have already voted with their feet.

Lead or Keep Closing

Scottsdale Unified has advantages Apache Junction can only dream about: strong neighborhoods, engaged parents and a name that still means something. What it lacks is imagination.

Closing buildings is not a strategy. It is an admission. Before the board votes, it should ask one simple question: what would it take to bring those families back?

Apache Junction has already answered that question. Scottsdale should be paying attention.

News Release from Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky

Scottsdale will consider enacting a proposed large water user ordinance at the Tuesday, Sept. 22 City Council meeting as the municipality continues exploring ways to strengthen long-term water stewardship and ensure future high-water-demand projects align with Scottsdale’s sustainability goals and development expectations.

The effort, proposed by Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, comes as communities across Arizona are evaluating how emerging industries, large employment centers and other projects with substantial water needs fit within long-term water planning strategies.

“Scottsdale has earned its reputation as a national leader in water management because our predecessors planned ahead,” Mayor Borowsky said. “As we continue to attract investment, we must ensure that projects with substantial water demands are evaluated through the lens of long-term impacts upon our community. This is about being proactive today, so Scottsdale remains resilient tomorrow.”

The Sept. 22 discussion will provide councilmembers and residents an opportunity to review information, explore policy options and determine whether additional tools are needed to address the impacts of future large-scale water users.

The proposed ordinance would establish a framework for reviewing developments or business operations with significant water demands while reinforcing Scottsdale’s longstanding commitment to responsible water management.

“Water does not recognize municipal boundaries,” Mayor Borowsky explains. “Protecting Arizona’s water future requires leadership, innovation and regional cooperation.”

The City Council’s discussion follows the U.S. Department of the Interior’s release of the new Colorado River operating guidelines for 2027 and 2028, which call for additional water conservation measures across the Lower Basin.

The framework includes annual reductions in Colorado River water deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada as federal officials and basin stakeholders respond to ongoing drought conditions and low reservoir levels. Mayor Borowsky contends Scottsdale is well-positioned to meet the needs of residents and businesses despite uncertainty surrounding future Colorado River allocations.

“While Scottsdale has legitimate concerns about the long-term health of the Colorado River system, our city remains well-positioned to meet the needs of our residents and businesses,” she said. “For decades, Scottsdale has invested in water conservation, infrastructure improvements, aquifer recharge, and a diverse water portfolio that enhances our resilience during times of drought and uncertainty.”

Under the federal proposal, Lower Basin states would collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually, with Arizona expected to account for approximately 760,000 acre-feet under the proposed sharing framework.
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Scottsdale has long punched above its weight in health care, and the newest U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings confirm it again. HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center once more lands among Arizona’s top-recognized hospitals, a distinction it has now earned across multiple ranking cycles. That consistency matters more than any single year’s placement.

A Track Record That Keeps Building

Shea has previously been rated high performing across nine separate adult procedures and conditions, a breadth of strength that few hospitals in the state can match. This year’s recognition builds on that foundation rather than standing alone. Meanwhile, Mayo Clinic Arizona’s continued Honor Roll status reinforces something Scottsdale residents already sense: greater Phoenix, and this corner of it especially, has become a genuine destination for advanced care. Furthermore, national specialty rankings in areas like cardiology, orthopedics, and gastroenterology show the depth runs well beyond a single flagship institution.

Why This Recognition Matters Locally

These rankings are not just bragging rights for a hospital press release. They translate into real outcomes for the families who rely on this infrastructure every day, from emergency care to complex surgical procedures. HonorHealth’s showing also reflects years of investment in specialized units and physician recruitment, choices that take a long time to pay off. In fact, the broader Arizona health care landscape includes several strong systems across the Valley, and Scottsdale’s presence near the top says something specific about this community’s priorities. Consequently, residents get a rare advantage: nationally competitive care without leaving town.

A Point of Civic Pride Worth Repeating

Scottsdale rarely misses a chance to celebrate its restaurants, resorts, and retail openings, and it should extend that same pride to institutions like Shea Medical Center. Health care rankings do not move quickly or reward hype, so a hospital that keeps showing up near the top is doing something durable and real. That is worth applauding every time the rankings come back around.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, not only for the loss of this great man, but for what his passing represents to all Arizonans.

Senator Kyl was a statesman in every sense of the word. He was staunch in his beliefs, yet always sought compromise. Senator Kyl was quick to teach and eager to learn. He was also adamant that each of us play a vital role in the health of our Constitutional Republic.

I find it fitting, and nearly poetic, that his death was announced on Constitution Day. Senator Kyl built his legislative career around the U.S. Constitution and his reverence for it. He was a constructionist through and through, whose conservative lens made him a strong advocate for the separation of powers. I share this passion and am grateful for leaders like Senator Kyl, whose lives have honored the tenants of timeless conservativism.

Senator Kyl’s passing represents the end of a bygone era of politics in which disagreements didn’t mean the end of a discussion, but the beginning. A time when we reached for understanding rather than blame. He was a great man whose decades-long career serves as a reminder that decency, kindness, intelligence, and foresight will always triumph.

My family and I continue to pray for Senator Kyl, his loving family, and all those who cared for him. May his memory and legacy continue to inspire civility and humility in all of us.”

By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead

Should Scottsdale Residents Pay Double for Water?

The current Council majority has gone to great lengths—and at ratepayers’ expense—to work around Scottsdale’s Water Strategic Plan, an adopted plan designed to keep our water flowing, safe, and affordable.

The latest proposal would further delay Scottsdale’s Advanced Water Purification facility—the most cost-effective and secure source of new water—and could potentially double the cost of treating water.

The “big” idea? Discharge Scottsdale’s highly treated wastewater into the Central Arizona Project (CAP) system in exchange for raw CAP water. That CAP water includes treated wastewater from Nevada.

Here are a few questions and concerns:

1. Should ratepayers pay twice to treat their drinking water? And not diversify?

Ratepayers will have to pay to treat water twice.  First for the water discharged into the canal and again for the raw CAP water.

Let’s remember, our overdependence on Colorado River water is the problem.  This proposal doubles down on the problem we must  solve.

2. How does this strengthen the regional water supply?

The City Manager says the proposal will “strengthen the regional supply.”

How?   If Scottsdale puts a cup of water into the canal and takes a cup out, I don’t see how the regional supply has changed.

With our drinking-water shortage, it makes no sense to send treated water downstream.

3. The real hurdle: How long will it take—and what will it cost.

This exchange isn’t allowed under current CAP rules. Changing it could take years, requiring approval from numerous CAP customers, including Native American tribes. Scottsdale’s water crisis can’t wait for that process—so why pursue it?

Can we just stick to the adopted Water Strategic Plan?

We have lost two years by delaying the final treatment work at Scottsdale’s Advanced Water Purification facility, which is already up and running. ADEQ rules are still evolving, but that shouldn’t prevent us from moving forward.

Meanwhile, Phoenix is building three advanced water purification facilities from the ground up under the same evolving regulatory framework.

Water is too important for politics. We need to follow the Plan, and focus on a secure water future—one that Scottsdale residents can trust and afford.

Scottsdale has never been shy about treating water like the scarce resource it is, and its latest pitch to offset Colorado River cuts proves it again. For decades the city has drawn roughly 70% of its supply from the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project. However, federal shortage declarations and a shrinking Lake Mead have forced Scottsdale to get creative rather than simply cut back.

Lake Mead – Photo Credit: LATimes.com

A Two-Decade Head Start on Innovation

Scottsdale did not wake up to this crisis unprepared. The city has spent more than 20 years purifying recycled water and reinjecting it into the aquifer, a process that already supplies about 15% of daily demand. Now officials want to go further, piping that same ultra-purified water directly into the municipal drinking supply instead of routing it through groundwater storage first. That leap, called direct potable reuse, would make Scottsdale one of the few Arizona cities producing drinking water this way. Meanwhile, the city already holds Arizona’s first permit for direct use of recycled water, a distinction that speaks to genuine engineering ambition.

Weighing Cost Against Water Independence

The numbers have grown alongside the ambition. Early estimates pegged the advanced purification project at $15 million to $20 million, but current projections approach $100 million, pushing the timeline from 2027 out to 2030. Councilmember Solange Whitehead has argued the investment is worth it, framing the goal as greater water independence rather than dependence on a shrinking river. Not everyone agrees; Councilman Adam Kwasman has pushed back on the idea of reclaimed water reaching taps. Still, city staff under Water Resources leadership continue refining cost estimates and regulatory plans ahead of a spring presentation to council.

Innovation Beyond a Single Pipeline

The purification project is only one piece of a broader strategy. Scottsdale has also agreed to spend $8.25 million on 15,000 acre-feet of groundwater from the Harquahala Valley, and it continues studying a possible Bartlett Dam expansion alongside new demand management rules. Together, these moves show a city treating a genuine crisis as an engineering puzzle rather than a reason for panic.

Greg Caton. Photo Credit: City of Scottsdale

Extra credit is due to City Manager Greg Caton for his work. His work encapsulates the sort of innovation and leadership on a policy matter that sits second to few, including in the public safety space. That is the kind of forward-thinking planning other Arizona cities facing the same

By Lisa Haskell

Mom taught me  to never follow the crowd because a crowd can  become an unruly mob. I have always been more independent so when it came time for me  to vote for the first time, I took the obligation seriously. I didn’t rely on others to do my research for me. I didn’t take anyone’s recommendation without doing my own ” homework” kind of like grade school.  Don’t cheat. And, whatever you do, don’t write the multiplication  tables ( the nines) on the palm of your hand in red marker before reciting them to the class. Your hands sweat and the red ink runs guaranteeing you will never know what 9×9 equals and your face will be as red as the ink running down your arm. So I was told..

In today’s world being the poster child for bad behavior is considered a badge of honor.  I admit there is a time and place for that but you must decide if bad behavior should be rewarded with an elected office. Sadly, civility seems to have gone out of style. It’s a slander your opponent ( and their supporters ) , sweep your own misdeeds under the nearest rug, manipulate facts, outcomes and anything or anyone who gets in your way kind of world.  Partisanship above all else. I honestly believe if Satan ran for public office he could win if he identified with the “right” party. Would he be a MAGA member or a DSA member? Hmmm…

Locally, we seem to be having a turf dispute as in no common ground. Disclaimer : I am not being rewarded monetarily by Axon or any other “dark money” group for my opinions. Friends and neighbors ask me who to vote for and my standard response is this. Do your own homework. Don’t copy off the kid who ate…paste in school. First, make a list of issues that are important to you . See where the candidates stand on those issues recognizing that you will never agree with someone 100% of the time. Start watching council meetings…painful though it might be. You can assess temperament and suitability to serve on council. Do they play well with others, compromise, work towards solutions ? Are they receptive to other points of view or is “Residents First” just a campaign slogan? Finally, look for evidence of involvement in the community other than rabid devotion to a political party. You can watch city council meetings live by going to the City of Scottsdale website.  Viewing the meeting from the comfort of your home allows you to hurl expletives and other objects at the screen while sipping your favorite adult beverage. It’s a win, win.

I still care about the same issues I always have but I am ready to try something new. I am weary of bad behavior and refuse to reward it with my vote. Personal attacks, smear campaigns, manipulation of election results….I want to see if anyone can find common ground or has that gone the way of unobstructed views?

Lisa Haskell

Scottsdale

A Building That Didn’t Need to Grow Taller

George Oliver, a Scottsdale-based real estate firm, bought the office building at 7272 E. Indian School Road for $42.2 million. Paired with two earlier purchases on Scottsdale Road, the assemblage now totals 360,000 square feet. In total, it spans three buildings on six acres. Most Old Town projects chase value by going up. This one does not. George Oliver and its investment partner, Ascentris, are renovating the existing structures instead of demolishing them. Founder Curt Kremer called it an effort at “honoring the character of the site’s existing buildings.” The goal, he said, is “thoughtfully transforming them” rather than starting over. In other words, no new floors and no zoning fight over height. Just a smarter use of what was already standing.

The site in question. Photo Credit: AZ Big Media

Value Added From the Inside Out

The project, called Arbor Old Town, leans on design rather than density to justify the price tag. Architect Jay Sciarani described it as a chance to put “wellness, hospitality and placemaking at the core” of office space. The campus will include a central courtyard called The Garden, complete with fireplaces and hanging daybeds. In fact, a vintage Winnebago serves as a café. Beyond that, there is a wellness center with a cold plunge, a 160-person training room, and a golf simulator lounge. It sounds indulgent, and it is. However, none of it required tearing anything down. Tenants have already noticed. Symmetry Software, a Gusto subsidiary, is relocating its headquarters there from Northsight. Meanwhile, a fintech firm has leased another 15,000 square feet.

Photo Credit: AZ Big Media

What Old Town Should Learn From This

Gallery owner Bob Pejman put it simply. “This is an example of a very good project,” he said. It “repurposes and enhances an existing three story office building,” he added, “by adding desirable and high-end features.” He called it “a net positive for Old Town.”; a distinction that matters. So much of Old Town’s recent development has followed a knock-it-down, build-it-up playbook. It stacks height onto small parcels and asks neighbors to live with the consequences. Arbor Old Town proves that is not the only path to a return. Creative interior design and a genuine respect for existing architecture can do the same job. Notably, none of it changes the skyline. Completion is targeted for later this year. If the leasing momentum holds, Scottsdale should be paying close attention. This is what development done right actually looks like, and the city could use a lot more of it.

https://www.thefp.com/p/niall-ferguson-aipocalypse-now-china-trump-pandemic-financial-collapse

By Doreen Reinke

Campaigns have a way of reducing people to mailers, slogans and thirty-second advertisements. But the Raoul Zubia I know is much easier to describe: he is a good man who genuinely cares about Scottsdale.

Raoul was born and raised here. Scottsdale isn’t someplace he moved to and decided to get involved in; it is home. His memories are here. His friendships are here. His family is here. And his commitment to this community didn’t begin when he decided to run for City Council.

For years, Raoul has quietly done the work.

He has served Scottsdale through the Human Services Commission, the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, Partners for Paiute, our schools, charitable organizations and community events. If there is work to be done, Raoul has never needed his name at the top of the program before agreeing to help.

That tells you something about a person.

I’ve also watched how Raoul treats people. He listens. He asks questions. He doesn’t assume the person across the table is an enemy simply because they disagree. In today’s politics, that quality is becoming far too rare.

Raoul isn’t interested in turning every disagreement into a fight. He wants to understand the problem, gather the facts and figure out what will actually work.

Scottsdale City Council could use more of that.

This election will feature plenty of arguments about policies and votes, as it should. But character matters too. Temperament matters. Judgment matters.

I’ve known Raoul outside the campaign spotlight. The person voters see today is the same person his friends have known for years: thoughtful, dependable, hardworking and deeply proud of this community.

That’s why I’m supporting my friend Raoul Zubia for Scottsdale City Council.

Doreen is a Community Philanthropist

464 Days and Counting

Corbin Burnes made his long-awaited 2026 debut on September 8. He threw three scoreless innings in an 11-inning win over the Royals. It capped a 464-day rehab that began with Tommy John surgery in June 2025. The road got even longer this June, when he strained his teres major during a bridge outing. Burnes signed a six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona in December 2024. He then made just 11 starts before his elbow gave out. He could have coasted through a lost season on that money. Instead, he logged a rehab start with Triple-A Reno. Beyond that, he threw a bridge camp game in Tempe, 53 pitches across three innings, just to prove he was ready. “Now we can stop talking about how long it has been,” Burnes said after the win. “Let’s just get back to playing baseball.”

Corbin Burnes. Photo Credit: Fox Sports

A Different Kind of Absence

Ketel Marte’s path back looked nothing like that. In August, Marte no-showed a game in Boston. For instance, manager Torey Lovullo said he “didn’t get much back from him” when he tried to reach out. The Diamondbacks placed Marte on the restricted list. Soon after, they moved him to the injured list for a sore left knee. Even so, fans booed him in his first at-bat when he returned. Marte offered a blunt explanation for the missed game. “It’s a moment of frustration,” he said, adding, “I failed him by not showing up.” Notably, this marked the fourth straight season Marte has missed a game without authorization. His numbers have slipped too. As a result, he is hitting .249 with 21 home runs, a steep drop from the near-MVP form that earned him back-to-back All-Star nods.

Ketel Marte. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

What Arizona Actually Needs

Major League Baseball doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The Diamondbacks are locked in a tight Wild Card race. Currently, they sit half a game ahead of San Diego heading into September. Three head-to-head games in late September could decide the final spot. Naturally, Lovullo called Burnes’ return “a manager’s dream.” Meanwhile, Marte remains in the lineup, and Arizona still needs his bat down the stretch. Still, the contrast between these two comebacks is hard to ignore. One player fought for fifteen months just to earn back his roster spot. The other, signed through 2031 on a $116.5 million extension, walked away from his team mid-race. Ultimately, he needed a knee MRI and an apology to make it right. In the end, Arizona fans noticed the difference. So did the standings.

By Allen Frank

A Second Cancellation in as Many Weeks

Saguaro has called off its game against American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek, scheduled for September 11. The district cited a simple reason: there were “not enough healthy and available student-athletes to safely field a team.” This is the second straight week a Saguaro game has disappeared from the schedule. We covered the first cancellation against Chaparral, and warned then that it looked like more than a one-week problem. That warning held up faster than expected.

How a 14-Time Champion Got Here

During better days

The roster math explains the panic. Saguaro opened the season with a 62-0 loss to Desert Mountain. Injuries from that game left the varsity roster at just 25 players. Roughly 35 players have transferred out of the program over the past two seasons. The coaching carousel did not help. Darius Kelly was fired after going 4-16 across two years. His replacement, Jason Ronquillo, quit before coaching a single game. Butch Goncharoff won 11 state titles at a Washington high school before taking over in February. He inherited just 14 players. Since then, he has rebuilt the roster to roughly 35 by merging the freshman and JV teams into varsity. That is five head coaches since 2022, at a program that has won 14 Arizona state titles since 1995. Broader SUSD turmoil sits in the background too.

What This Might Mean for Saguaro’s Future

Goncharoff insists the season will continue. “We are not canceling the season,” he said, and Saguaro is still scheduled to host Mountain Ridge on September 18. However, two cancellations in two weeks suggest a program running on fumes rather than momentum. A roster this thin cannot absorb many more injuries before it simply cannot field a team at all. Even a strong coach with a championship résumé needs bodies to coach, and Saguaro does not have many to spare.

Photo Credit: On3

If the pattern continues, expect more late-week cancellations rather than blowout losses. The district appears committed to player safety over playing shorthanded. Longer term, this likely means a rebuilding window measured in years, not months. Talented players do not transfer back quickly once they leave. A shortened schedule this fall makes it harder to convince the next freshman class that Saguaro football is still worth their time. The dynasty is not dead. It is, for now at least, on life support.

By Janet Kaufman, Scottsdale resident

By John Ainley

By Jim Derouin

Jerome Garcia’s recent post makes several claims about Raoul Zubia that are preposterous and simply not true.  Most glaring is the assertion that Raoul’s support comes “exclusively from Democrats and socialist factions.” That is pure poppy cock.

Raoul’s publicly listed endorsers include Deb Gullett, a former Republican state representative, and Wes Gullett, a longtime Republican operative who served as an adviser to Senator John McCain and chief of staff to Republican Gov. Fife Symington. Deb Gullett was a Republican legislator and longtime Republican activist, while Wes Gullett was a Republican presidential elector for John McCain in 2008 and ran for Mayor of Phoenix against Greg Stanton.

Further, Raoul’s endorsement list includes former council candidate and conservative Crystal Caroll, Coconino County Assessor and Republican Jack Lunsford, numerous current and former local elected officials, business and community leaders, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, Scottsdale firefighters and Scottsdale REALTORS®, former Mayor Sam Campana, and former federal prosecutor and Republican Patrick Cunningham.

Does that sound like a coalition of Democrats and socialists?

Zubia has publicly rejected DSA. His campaign does not list DSA among its endorsements. The continued attacks and statements suggesting DSA involvement is irresponsible.

The claim that Zubia offers no substantive policy positions is also outright wrong and disproven by his published platform. His campaign specifically calls for water recycling, stronger enforcement of short-term-rental ordinances, development standards addressing height and traffic and more. Ignoring these facts is untrue and outright false.

Scottsdale voters deserve arguments based on the candidates’ actual records and positions. Fictionalized stories aren’t needed.

Raoul’s opponents, however, have become well known for spreading disinformation about water recycling and fellow councilmembers through anonymous social media sources.  I may sound old, but I would like to bring back the days of Herb Drinkwater when members of the City Council put Scottsdale first rather than their own careers.

Raoul Zubia was born and raised in Scottdale.  This is “home.”  This is where he spent his professional career.  This is where he has volunteered for innumerable civic activities for decades. His integrity is unchallengeable.  If voters want someone who will put “citizens first,” he is the person.  All this gibberish about Raoul being radical is silly talk that only makes conservatives of conscience want to back him more in order to make the City Council civil again.