🌱 Scottsdale Student Wins National Contest + Diamond Smuggling

Hello, neighbors! It's Megan Moreno, bringing you a fresh edition of the Scottsdale Patch newsletter. Let's get this Sunday started off right with a quick summary of everything you need to know that's going on around town, including...

• A local student won a national handwriting contest.
• Charged with smuggling diamonds, a Scottsdale man faces decades in prison.
• Two Scottsdale restaurants will pay penalties for undisclosed extra customer charges.

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But first, your local weather:

• Expect brilliant sunshine and heat today, with a high of 99 and low of 72.

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Here are the top stories today in Scottsdale:

1. Braedyn Fehl, a fourth-grade student at Anasazi Elementary School, won the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. Arizona is "one of less than half of U.S. states to require students to learn cursive," but Braedyn showed a passion for the writing style when she first learned it in third grade and claimed the state-level championship in the competition. Fehl, who describes the writing style as "magical," competed against more than 80,000 students across the country at the fourth-grade level, and she was selected as one of 20 national competition winners. Congrats, Braedyn, we'll be rooting for you when you enter the competition in fifth grade! (12news.com KPNX)
2. A Scottsdale resident was charged with illegally smuggling diamonds into the U.S. through Miami International Airport. Guilherme Cipriani, 41, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Cipriani, who had "14 loose-cut diamonds and 53 rough-uncut diamonds," is also being charged with providing a false statement to U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to the jewels being discovered. (Arizona's Family)
3. Maple & Ash and Etta, two Scottsdale restaurants, agreed to "pay $20,000 in civil penalties for charging customers an extra fee without properly notifying them." Customers were charged an extra 3.5% "employee benefit" charge, appearing on their bills as "Emp Benefit." The extra fee was not displayed on menus and could only be found under the "About Us" section of the restaurant website. (12news.com KPNX)
4. Have you tried to get to Target or Hobby Lobby and found yourself overly frustrated as you navigate the intersection at Talking Stick Way and Pavilions Boulevard in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community? You may not be alone! Residents are voicing concerns with this intersection, as "some of the turn lanes look more narrow than others," and the permanent traffic lights have been out of commission for over a year. Pinpointing ownership of this intersection turns out to be much like a game of hot potato. ADOT indicated that SRP-MIC has jurisdiction over the intersection, but SRP-MIC did not respond when local news crews requested confirmation. Representatives of De Rito Partners Development, the company who "decided to replace all four traffic lights and poles," stated it has no plans to widen roads at this intersection. (Arizona's Family)

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Tomorrow in Scottsdale:

Monday, May 1

• Drop-in Mindfulness Coloring at Appaloosa Library (All Day)
• Tiny Tot Time at Appaloosa Library (10:30 AM - 10:50 AM)
• Twos & Threes Together at Civic Center Library (10:30 AM - 11:00 AM)
• Fly Classes: Super Hero at the Valley of the Sun JCC (1:05 PM - 1:50 PM)
• Memorial Monday Film Series: 1917 at Mustang Library (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
• Club J at the Valley of the Sun JCC (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
• Fly Classes: Amazing Athletes at the Valley of the Sun JCC (3:30 PM - 4:05 PM)
• Teen Advisory Board at Mustang Library (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
• Full STEAM Ahead: Lego Penny Boat Challenge at Civic Center Library (5:30 PM - 6:30 PM)
• Family Storytime at Arabian Library (6:15 PM - 6:45 PM)

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From my notebook:

• "The Scottsdale Charros hosted their annual Scottsdale Charros Education Banquet and provided one of our SPD Cadets with a scholarship to further their public safety education." (Scottsdale Police Department via Facebook)
• "Want to know more about [Scottsdale] employee values? See what public service means to us: ScottsdaleAZ.gov/hr/employee-values. Ready to join Team Scottsdale? Check out the latest job openings: GovernmentJobs.com/careers/scottsdaleaz" (City of Scottsdale - Government via Facebook)
• Scottsdale Fire Department "crews officially put a new Pierce Fire Engine 603 into service just before 5 pm Friday, following a traditional push-in ceremony to christen the engine. The older E603 will become a spare in the fleet." (Scottsdale Fire Department via Facebook)
• Beat the Heat! "The summer heat is here again and with it comes triple-digit temperatures that last through September... Extreme heat can increase the risk for heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke." (Scottsdale Fire Department via Facebook)
• "Celebrate the incredible women in your life this Mother's Day! From sun-drenched brunches to pampering spa treatments and fun activities, there are so many ways to make this day special in Scottsdale. https://bit.ly/3LdMlBU" (Experience Scottsdale via Facebook)
• "Indulge in a perfect cup of coffee while exploring the stunning Sonoran Desert - these coffee shops serve everything from classic brews to specialty drinks to make your adventure even better. https://bit.ly/3HkbidZ" (Experience Scottsdale via Facebook)
• Several Scottsdale restaurants claimed spots on "Yelp's Top 100 Southwest Restaurants" list, including Koi Poke at 18221 N Pima Road-Ste 100 & 105, Valley Wings at 1495 N Hayden Road, Simon's Hot Dogs at 4280 Drinkwater Blvd-Ste 200, and De Babel at 14884 N Pima Access Road-Ste 106! (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix)
• In nearby news, check out the Paradise Valley home that "recently sold for $23.5 million in cash, setting a new record for the highest price paid for a home in the area." (Arizona Foothills Magazine)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday off right. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Megan Moreno

About me: 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 meg_n_more@outlook.com