🌱 Celebrate With Scottsdale Parks & Recreation + Resolution No. 12888

Hello, neighbors! I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. In today's issue of the newsletter, we have:

• Celebrating with Scottsdale Parks and Recreation throughout July.
• City Council voted to accept a large grant for a controversial initiative.
• A man was caught using counterfeit cash.

But first, your weekend weather: It will be hot with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 110 and low of 82.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Scottsdale Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99 percent of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Scottsdale Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top stories in Scottsdale today:

1. July is National Park and Recreation Month, and Scottsdale Parks and Recreation has released a line-up of activities to celebrate the occasion. The theme this year is "Where Community Grows," which celebrates "the vital role parks and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities." The first scheduled festivity is the Star Spangled Spectacular Dance for "individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities," which takes place today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Adaptive Services Center, 8102 E. Jackrabbit Road. Other planned activities include Rainbow Stained Glass at the Horizon Community Center on July 8, Sunset Swim at McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center on July 14 and Eldorado Aquatic Center on July 22, and Safety Luau at the Eldorado Aquatic Center on July 30. You can check out all upcoming Scottsdale Parks and Recreation classes and programs here. (City of Scottsdale)
2. At Tuesday's meeting, Scottsdale City Council voted to "accept a $940,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Housing to house homeless people from Phoenix's 'The Zone' encampment" and border migrants in a Scottsdale hotel. Though the specific hotel hasn't been named, it was indicated that it is near Indian Bend and Pima roads. City Councilman Barry Graham gave the only "no" vote, citing concerns with "vetting participants and community safety." The June 27 City Council marked regular agenda can be found here, and the report on Resolution No. 12888 can be found on page 10 by clicking the link titled "Homeless Shelter and Service Funding Agreement." Within the report, it is stated that expanding the bridge housing program with the hotel will "provide contracted supportive services and meet basic needs of food and drink to individuals and moreover serve those impacted by the Zone and Title 42 between Arizona and Mexico through referrals from the Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry Points for seniors aged 62 and older and single parent families." (The Arizona Sun Times)
3. Ann Siner, owner of My Sister's Closet in Scottsdale, shared her frustration after a customer used counterfeit money in her store. The suspect purchased a $20 gift card using a counterfeit $100 bill, so he made a profit of $80 at the expense of the business. Jason Paplinksi, 41, already had a warrant for his arrest for allegedly committing the same crime when Scottsdale police officers arrested him at a nearby store. Siner purchased a counterfeit-scanning machine to ensure that her business isn't taken advantage of again, and she is urging other small business owners to do the same. (FOX 10 News)

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Do you have large medical bills? Resolve helps everyday patients get a fair price on their medical bills. They do it all from appealing insurance, negotiating with the hospital, finding billing errors, and finding financial assistance opportunities. Medical bills are what they do. See how Resolve has saved patients $28 Million and how they can help you too here.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday in Scottsdale:

Sunday, July 2

• Red, White, and Choo Choo at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Enjoy live music, bounce houses, water slides, foam cannons, a pie-eating contest, food trucks, fireworks, and more! Purchase tickets here. (4:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

Monday, July 3

• Kids Cafe at Civic Center Library (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
• Family Storytime at Arabian Library (6:15 PM - 6:45 PM)

Tuesday, July 4

• Scottsdale's July 4th - Red, White and Cool at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. "Scottsdale's family-friendly patriotic celebration is Red, White & COOL! — uniting everyone's summertime favorites: fabulous food, fireworks and family fun, while beating the Arizona heat." Purchase tickets here. (5:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Father's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating rad dads, past and present. Patch partnered with T-Mobile to shine a light on exceptional fathers in communities like Scottsdale. Click here to meet 13 awesome dads and learn more about the legacies they're leaving behind.

From my notebook:

• "We recently launched our Patrol Drone Program. Officers use this tech to assist on calls for service, criminal investigations and search & rescue missions. They go through FAA training and certification to learn to pilot the drones safely and effectively." (Scottsdale Police Department via Facebook)
• "Follow our Scottsdale recruits through their police academy journey. More updates to come!" Check out the video at the link. (Scottsdale Police Department via Facebook)
• "The Fraesfield and Tom's Thumb Trailheads, along with surrounding trails in the Gooseneck area of the Preserve, will remain closed through at least Sunday, July 2. Trailheads and trails are closed until fire operations in the area are complete and trails can be evaluated." (City of Scottsdale - Government via Facebook)
• "The National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) is the only of its kind and demonstrates that Scottsdale meets the highest national standards for overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. We were one of the first agencies in the nation to earn this accreditation back in 1994. We're joining NRPA to celebrate more successes like this during Parks and Recreation Month in July!" (Scottsdale Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• "Girls in STEM: Explore science, technology, engineering and math concepts hands-on. Meant for girls ages 11-14, STEM areas of focus will differ each week! 2 p.m., Thursdays, July 6, 13 and 20 at Mustang Library." (Scottsdale Public Library via Facebook)
• "Grow your business while staying cool at our VIRTUAL AM Connect, hosted by The Weber Group, on July 20 from 8-9 a.m.! As part of this event, you'll hear from two nonprofit members who are making a real impact in our community... Register at: https://bit.ly/3r2krCx" (Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• "In a collaboration between Scottsdale's Source Global and Local First Arizona, 800 hydropanels will be installed across Arizona, providing free access to clean drinking water for individuals residing in remote communities. https://bit.ly/3PAPS18 SOURCE-Water" (Scottsdale Economic Development via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop for today! I'll be back in your inbox next week with another update. Stay safe this weekend!

— Megan Moreno

About me: Dr. Megan Moreno is a registered nurse, leader, cancer survivor, wife, and mother of two. Megan loves spending time with her husband, who is an Army combat veteran, and their children exploring the beautiful city of Scottsdale.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Scottsdale Patch newsletter? Contact me at [email protected]