The Karolzak Chronicles: Volume II

We wrote before about the amusing announcement by the very weird John Karolzak that he wants to run for Mayor of Scottsdale.  Click here to read. We note that he describes himself on social media as a “health care executive.”  What a disservice to the words health, care and executive.  Dude was a lobbyist for an ambulance company.  At the … Read More

Guest Editorial: A Very Special, Special Interest

By Scottsdale Pinetop In the age of “everyone is special” it’s often hard to stand out from the crowd. As an individual, a business and even as a community, our own special interests can easily be overshadowed. Scottsdale is no exception. In a city of greats, from the nationally acclaimed Barrett-Jackson Car Auction to spring training season, it’s easy to … Read More

Guest Editorial: Save Our Lake

By Scottsdale Pinetop What happens when a lake is not a lake but rather an irrigation reservoir? A small town community loses one of its biggest recreational assets. That’s the latest problem facing the beloved Woodland Lake in the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside. For years, residents, business owners and tourists alike have enjoyed the lake for its beauty and recreation. The … Read More

Guest Editorial: Grinched: ‘Christmas Lee’ Re-Instates His Holiday Light Show Despite City Of Phoenix's Misbehavior Last Year

By Robert Rich Lee Sepanek’s (aka “Christmas Lee”) light show got on the cities’ radar a few times too many last year. The Phoenix resident’s home, located near 44th Street and Camelback Road, is normally an extravagant, shining beacon for the season’s Christmas Spirit starting Thanksgiving Night. However, the City of Phoenix took issue with Lee’s ambitions the year prior. … Read More

Yogi Berra Comes To Scottsdale: It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again

By Neighborhood Nelly Arizona pioneers didn’t just set up our state for the powerful. They did so for the people too. That’s why the referenda and initiative process and rights are enshrined in our State Constitution. Referendum rights allow citizens to challenge the decisions of their elected officials. Initiatives allow the people to bypass legislatures and city councils to propose … Read More

Howard’s End?

Scottsdale resident Howard Myers was an important and critical voice that led to the Proposition 420 movement in Scottsdale.  Passed by a 71% margin on November 6th the vote stopped the ill-conceived Desert Discovery Center and enshrined more rights to city citizens when it comes to future changes in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. For that, Mr. Myers and many others … Read More

Ambulance Chasers Need Not Apply

So John Karolzak wants to be the next Mayor of Scottsdale?  According to recent Facebook posts he apparently does.  Notwithstanding Elon Musk’s ambitions people are more likely to be on Mars in 2020 than ever seeing this lobbyist and gadfly presiding in the Kiva. Karolzak is an infamous name synonymous with loose professional morals in the ambulance business, where he … Read More

Lancing The Boil

Few people have more conscientiously served Scottsdale over the many years than Virginia Korte.  Southern Scottsdale businesswoman.  Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce President.  Non-profit leader.  Stalwart supporter of Scottsdale public schools.  Early voice to preserve the McDowell Mountains.  She’s a Scottsdale Hall of Famer in every sense of the word.  She wants to be Mayor of Scottsdale, badly.  She’s considered it at various times in the past and was … Read More

Guest Editorial: A Flagrant Foul: The University Of Arizona Reminds Us Of A Fundamental Issue With The NCAA

By Robert Rich The University of Arizona has gained national acclaim for its prestigious Division-1 basketball team. Only last summer, blue-chip prospect & Wildcat alumni Deandre Ayton was drafted first overall to the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 draft. However, the foundation in which the program was fostered appears to be crooked to its core. The University has reportedly spent … Read More