NE Valley Times

The city of Scottsdale has officially unveiled the newly remodeled Civic Center, marking a significant renovation of the area that has served as a central hub for civic events and gatherings for 55 years. The celebration, titled "Fall in Love with Scottsdale Civic Center," will feature over 70 activities from October 3 to November 22 in Old Town.

Among the highlights is a concert by Wilco on October 3 at East Bowl. Described by Rolling Stone as “one of America’s most consistently interesting bands,” tickets are priced at $59. Additionally, the free "Books 2 Boogie" event offers playful learning sessions for children and caregivers every Thursday until November 16.

Flamenco Intimo performances will be held on weekends through October 27 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing both national and international Flamenco artists.

In other news, Scottsdale is seeking community input on homelessness through an online questionnaire available at SpeakUpScottsdale.com. This initiative aims to gather feedback to aid the city's ongoing bridge housing program.

A landfill fire near Beeline Highway and Gilbert Road resulted in smoky skies over Scottsdale. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community reported that the fire has been largely suppressed with minor smoldering remaining. The landfill remains closed as a precaution.

October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month sees efforts to support victims locally. The city Prosecutor’s Office assisted over 1,100 victims last fiscal year, while Victim Services made more than 5,000 direct contacts during this period. Donations of hygiene items are being collected until October 31.

Scottsdale's Parks and Recreation Department is developing a Master Plan to guide future priorities and goals. A community workshop is scheduled for October 4 at Mountain View Community Center.

Public meetings such as the Paths and Trails Subcommittee on October 3 and Veterans Advisory Commission on October 4 provide opportunities for residents to engage with city issues.

The Old Town Farmers Market continues every Saturday through June offering fresh produce and specialty items. Meanwhile, Scottsdale Stadium hosts fall baseball games featuring top minor league prospects until November 11.

Halloween Spook-Track-Ula returns to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park from October 6-31, offering family-friendly spooky train rides in limited capacity time blocks each evening.

Ongoing programs include the Scottsdale ArtWalk every Thursday night and various educational workshops under Neighborhood College throughout October.

Scottsdale City Council has approved an expansion of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, funded by a private donation. Construction is expected to take two years.

Lastly, Vista del Camino celebrates its 50th anniversary on November 4 with activities including yard games and food trucks while accepting non-perishable donations for its food bank.