NE Valley Times

The Scottsdale City Council is set to hold its inauguration ceremony on January 10, welcoming re-elected Councilwomen Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead alongside newly elected member Barry Graham. The event will be held at the Scottsdale City Hall Kiva, followed by a regular council meeting.

City offices will close on January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, although recycling and garbage collection schedules remain unchanged. A Community Celebration Dinner honoring Martin Luther King Jr. will feature Dr. Benjamin Chavis as the keynote speaker at the Scottsdale Stadium Fieldhouse on January 12.

Residents can register for a virtual class titled "Short-Term Rentals, the Long and Short of it!" scheduled for January 19. This session will include representatives from various city departments discussing short-term rental concerns and enforcement of new ordinances.

Scottsdale will host the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon on January 15, resulting in street closures or restrictions throughout the city.

Public meetings are scheduled throughout January, including sessions with the Human Relations Commission, City Council, and Planning Commission. Additionally, open houses for feedback on amendments to the Old Town Scottsdale Character Area Plan & Zoning Ordinance updates are planned for January 10 and 12.

The Gold Palette ArtWalk: Demonstrate! event will take place on January 12 with live artist demonstrations and performances by the 100 Club of Arizona's bagpipe musicians. Other cultural events include a Civil War Roundtable lecture by Terry Winschel on January 17 and craft chocolate workshops hosted by Zak’s Chocolate later in the month.

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance returns to Scottsdale Civic Center on January 22 after previously being held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction follows from January 21-29 at WestWorld.

Ongoing activities such as Scottsdale ArtWalks continue weekly along with seasonal events like the Old Town Farmers Market every Saturday through June.

Cactus Aquatic and Fitness Center is temporarily closed until January 14 for maintenance but will reopen thereafter. Meanwhile, construction is underway for an inclusive playground at Thompson Peak Park expected to finish in February.

Programs like Adaptive Services offer support to citizens with disabilities while initiatives like Adopt-A-Family helped nearly 600 families during recent holidays.

Residents have until January 16 to dispose of Christmas trees through designated drop-off locations or curbside collection options provided by Scottsdale Solid Waste.

Senior centers seek volunteer pen pals for Hohokam Elementary students; interested individuals can contact Granite Reef Senior Center for details.

A "Shred It" event is scheduled for document disposal on January 14 at Walmart parking lot on Northsight Blvd., charging $5 per box or bag processed.

Applications are open for federal Community Development Block Grant funds aimed at emergency home repairs or affordable housing projects with deadlines approaching in early February.

Entries are being accepted for participation in Parada Del Sol Historic Parade happening February 4 in Old Town Scottsdale which celebrates diverse cultural heritage through floats and performances following a specific route ending at Brown Avenue and Indian School Road.

Lastly, minor adjustments have been made to trolley routes affecting travel direction but not timing across certain city roads offering free service every twenty minutes.