By Gilbert Guru Arizona Community Colleges are on the rise. Dr. Casey Durandet, a professor at Paradise Valley Community College, was recently one of 23 faculty nationwide to be awarded the 2021 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award. The award is a national recognition for those making a difference in the classroom, presented by the American Association of Community Colleges. … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Rosie the Riveter – one of history’s most recognizable cultural (and feminist) icons since its inception in World War II with a message to women everywhere that “We Can Do It.” Women have continued to play increasingly important roles in all branches of the U.S. military, as history can attest for more than 80 years. And Arizona … Read More

The year was 2004.  The City Council consisted of Mayor Mary Manross and Councilmembers Wayne Ecton, Bob Littlefield, Cynthia Lukas, Ned O-Hearn, Roberta Pilcher, Tom Silverman and then Councilmember David Ortega. That March, Scottsdale voters were asked to consider a major change to the way its City Council would be elected.  Instead of 6 councilmembers being voted in by a city-wide majority Proposition 100 … Read More

By Alexander Lomax I recently spoke about Rep. Kirkpatrick’s retirement and how the race to succeed her will almost certainly become crowded. We received a bit more clarity recently with Randy Friese’s official announcement of his candidacy. Friese joins Kirsten Engel as the two stated candidates to succeed Kirkpatrick. Like Engel, Friese has spent plenty of time in the state … Read More

A number of years ago there was a creative proposal to build a New York City-inspired “High-Line Trail” down the middle of Scottsdale’s McDowell Road, up in the air, connecting the Indian Bend Wash to a new Red Rocks-style amphitheater in Papago Park. Those familiar with the High-Line know what a remarkable recreational amenity and economic development driver the project has … Read More

By Alexander Lomax Life certainly isn’t back to normal. We all have had enough normal-ish experiences, but everyday life sort of resembles Canada; a lot of similarities but nearly everything is slightly yet noticeably different. One thing that is nowhere close to normalcy is the live music scene, which has been destroyed by Covid for obvious reasons. But are we … Read More

By Councilwoman Tammy Caputi For those of you who missed it, Tuesday’s council meeting showed there may be reason for optimism about the future of Scottsdale. The City Council voted 6-1 to move forward with the Kimsey Project, with plans that include a 168-room hotel, 190-dwelling units, a restaurant and commercial space at 7110 E. Indian School Road. Yes, council … Read More

By Gilbert Guru In the happy news of the day category, we present to you the 4th Annual Shark Tank Competition: Hosted by Quartz Hill Elementary. Home of the “Trailblazers,” the school saw 7 teams pitch their business ideas to a panel of “Sharks” on March 24th. 26 fifth-graders, pulled on their best business professional attire and took to the … Read More

We’re not sure how certain even she was of victory when she ran for Scottsdale City Council in 2018.  But when you are relentlessly positive and have a wave issue like opposition to the Desert Discovery Center to ride things can, and did, turn out well for Solange Whitehead. Two years later, after smartly and deliberately taking her time to … Read More