🌱 Deadly Weekend Crashes + Equine Scat + Italian Pizza Festival

Happy Wednesday, Scottsdale! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

A beautiful day is in store. It will be sunny to partly cloudy with a high of 82, and a low of 57.

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Here are the top stories in Scottsdale today:

1. Fiery Crash Update: Here's how police have pieced Sunday's deadly accident on the 101 and Hayden together, according to Patch Media reporting. A motorcyclist crashed his bike in the HOV lane. Two cars stopped in the HOV lane to assist the rider, and an oncoming driver in an SUV crashed into both of the good Samaritans' cars, causing the vehicles to burst into flames, trapping and killing one of the drivers inside. According to the report, the names of the victim or the driver have not been released (Caitlin Sievers/Patch). In an unrelated but equally tragic weekend incident, as reported on AZ Family, George Johnson was determined to be legally intoxicated when he drove his car into a steel pole while attempting to exit the 202 at Scottsdale Road. His girlfriend, 38-year-old Tamirah Washington, was killed in the accident. Johnson has been jailed since the crash. (Arizona's Family)
2. Equine scat, 40,000 tons of it, results annually from equestrian events held at Scottsdales' WestWorld, according to a City Press Release. According to the report, a collaborative effort to repurpose the stuff provides Mountain Sales Wholesale Nursery an integral component of its soil mix, and the city saves more than $100k annually. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery focuses on native plants and supplementing its soils for the past two years. To learn more, go to "Sustainable Scottsdale." (Scottsdale City Press Release)
3. The Italian Association of Arizona will be the beneficiary of revenue from the first Italian Pizza & Wine Festival held from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Scottsdale City Hall. According to Reporting in the Scottsdale Independent, the first Pizza and Wine Event will be the precursor to the 7th Annual Italian Festival set to take place at the end of February 2022 in Heritage Square Phoenix. According to the piece, the November event is founded on this goal of giving families a delicious reason to be outside and to celebrate all things Italian. In addition, the Independent quoted Francesco Guzzo, executive director of the Italian Association of Arizona, "and anything worth celebrating in Italy comes with fantastic wines, and beer - Peroni! Add the excellent Italian and Italian-American musical entertainment, some roving acts for the kids, and it lends the perfect excuse to come out and support our fabulous Italian pizza makers." (Your Valley)

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Today's Scottsdale Daily is brought to you by Verizon, a Patch Brand Partner. Learn more about how Black and Mobile, a food delivery app created by two brothers, is helping put the spotlight on Black-owned restaurants.

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Today in Scottsdale:

Civic Meetings—How will you get involved?

• Library Board Regular Meeting — Civic Center. (4:30 p.m.)
• Airport Advisory Commission — Civic Center. (6 p.m.)
• Parks and Recreation Regular Meeting — Civic Center. (6 p.m.)
• Scottsdale Environmental Advisory Commission — Civic Center. (6:30 p.m.)

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Scottsdale Patch Notebook

• Scottsdale Police Department: "Rocket's seat belt selfie gets our vote for the best #RockTheBelt photo! It's National Teen Driver Safety Week and you know we're helping Arizona SADD to spread the word to keep our community safe." (Facebook)
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: "Join Salt River Schools from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21 for a SPOOKTACULAR DRIVE-THRU event. " (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Public Library: "This Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Mustang Library at 2 p.m., Dare to be scared and watch 'Frankenstein & Dracula' with us!" (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Vista Career Center: "October Hiring Event Next Week! Don't miss these amazing employers: Eastridge, Kelly Services Roadhouse Cinema, Square One Concepts, Village Health Club & Spas, and Walgreens. This is a great event to find a part-time, seasonal or permanent position." (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce: "The Scottsdale International Film Festival returns as both an in-person festival (Nov. 5-9 at the Harkins Shea 14 and Camelview Theatres) and as a virtual festival (Nov. 10-12)." (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Geoff Campbell

About me: I live in Scottsdale; I am a freelance writer, published both in print and on the web. Following a 40-year career as a teacher, administrator, and coach, now committed to education in the broadest sense possible.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Scottsdale Daily? You can contact me at scottsdale@patch.com.