Middle School Lifesavers + 3 Billion Gallons + JoyEful Art

Happy Tuesday, neighbors! Let's get this day started. These are the most important things going on in town today.

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First, today's weather:

Today's weather is the not-so-calm before the cool! There will be a stray thunderstorm; not as warm. The high will be 85, and the low, 66. Enjoy!

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Here are the top stories today in Scottsdale:

1. Middle schoolers are often recognized for their split attention and undulating moods, not their coordinated and heroic actions. Well, one group of bus-riding Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) students are "being hailed as heroes for their quick thinking, when their bus driver suffered a medical emergency on the way to school Friday, Oct. 1," according to reporting by ABC15 Arizona. Cocopah Middle School students sprang into action when they observed the bus driver's labored breathing, which caused her to pull over. One quick-thinking rider called 911, another used the radio to notify SUSD, and a third used his phone to send latitude and longitude coordinates. ABC15 reported the district's response, "The maturity and bravery they exhibited in this stressful situation, and their knowledge of how to use technology to help first responders get to the bus quickly meant a world of difference to our driver's life, to her family, and SUSD. They are heroes." The bus driver remains under a doctor's care. (ABC15 Arizona)
2. According to a Scottsdale Parks and Recreation press release, "3 billion gallons [of water has been] saved in the past 20 years," as Scottsdale Parks and Rec routinely cut annual usage by 15 percent. The more than 1,000 acres spread over 43 parks create a high need for the stuff that is being rationed more and more, both by nature and conservation plans like Scottsdale's Drought Management Plan. The release states that the City adopted the first stage in August in response to the Colorado River Tier 1 shortage, announced by the Bureau of Reclamation, in effect on Jan. 1, 2022. The initial phase requires only that the citizenry voluntarily cut water usage, and the City has employed Parks and Rec as a leading example in that effort. Water cutting efforts by Scottsdale Parks & Recreation include replacing turf with xeriscape, repairing and improving irrigation systems, including a leak detection feature, and making conservation a focus in future projects. (Press Release Desk)
3. The public is invited to the grand opening reception at JoyEful Gallery: Joye DeGoede Fine Art, located at 34505 N. Scottsdale Road, on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m., according to reporting in the Foothills Focus magazine. The gallery will host an eclectic collection of artist works, including those by local artists Gedion Nyanhongo, Joanie Wolter, Pat Isaacson, Shannon Taggart, and Maya Henaff. "I hope they come in and have a good time. It's all about having that joyful moment," said gallery host DeGoede, known for her whimsical, animal-inspired oil paintings. "You get to see your world in a different light and through the artists' eyes, and then you make that connection with a piece of art and realize it fits perfectly with your home." Art styles/movements represented in the gallery will range from surrealism to realism, sculptures, and more, according to DeGoede. (Foothills Focus)

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Today in Scottsdale:

• Games with Friends. (2 p.m.)

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Scottsdale Patch Notebook

• Scottsdale Police Department boasts: "Any guesses who won this year's Battle of the Badges golf tournament? It's a trick question. This year's big winner was the Desert Mountain Helping Hands Fund! Each year, the SPD and Scottsdale Fire Department put some teams together for a day of healthy competition on the links. Fire won bragging rights with a 1 stroke win." (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Fire Department reminds: "It's Fire Prevention Week! Do you know the 'Sounds of Fire Safety?' A continuous set of three loud beeps — beep, beep, beep — means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out. A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed." (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Public Library announces: "Do you like to draw, create images, or just doodle? Your artwork could become a Scottsdale Public Library card! All teens between the ages of 12-18 are encouraged to enter; one winning design will be chosen to be a limited edition." (Facebook)
• Scottsdale Parks & Recreation remembers: "Oct. 3, 1994, the Scottsdale City Council took a historic step when it passed Resolution No. 4103, formally establishing the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Originally, the preserve spanned 4.5 square miles or 2,860 acres." (Facebook)

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Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar—Online. (Oct. 5)
• Security Seminar —Tumbleweed Recreation Center. (Oct. 5)
• Co-Parenting During the Holidays – Scottsdale, Arizona Hub ~ No-Cost Webinar. (Oct. 6)
• Self Defense and Empowerment Workshop —KBX-PHX Studio. (Oct. 8)
• Estate Planning Seminar—Anthem Civic Building. (Oct. 11)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar —Goodyear Recreation Campus. (Oct. 12)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update! If you're feeling 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? I'm all ears. You can reach me at scottsdale@patch.com.