Top stories
Neighbors
Annual ‘grandparenting’ summit to be held at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church
Entertainment
The Thumb opens outdoor public market
Philanthropy
Scottsdale locals launch laptop initiative for students in-need
Town Council

Paradise Valley’s winning candidates express excitement for new terms

The winning candidates of Paradise Valley’s primary election are eager and looking forward to the 2023 term, which begins in January. In the Aug. 2 primary election, Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner …
Development

New owners open up about future of Smoke Tree Resort

Collaboration appears to be the name of the game, as the newest owners of Smoke Tree resort are confident they can bring forward a winning development for the town of Paradise Valley. Describing a …

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Hague Aggressive Market

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PARADISE VALLEY NEWS & OPINION
News
Election 2022

Unofficial results: Paradise Valley primary election shows initial front-runners

Unofficial results show incumbent Jerry Bien-Willner leading the race for Paradise Valley mayor in the Aug. 2 primary election. At 8 p.m. Aug. 2, when unofficial results posted, Bien-Willner …
ENERGY

Tempe-based utility offers Valley nonprofits chance for free solar system

Salt River Project invites qualifying Valley nonprofits to apply for the chance to receive a solar system. The application period for a chance to receive the system, which provides renewable …
Politics

Small town Paradise Valley election garners campaign donations

One candidate for Paradise Valley Town Council is reportedly not collecting, or spending, many campaign funds, new campaign finance reports show. Meanwhile, the other three candidates for council …
Election

Paradise Valley mayoral candidates report second quarter campaign finances

Paradise Valley’s two candidates for mayor are raising significant funds this election season, new campaign finance documents show. The second-quarter filings — which cover April 1 to …

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Politics

A race to town council: Paradise Valley candidates participate in public forum

A public forum at Paradise Valley Town Hall took place July 14 for Town Council candidates to discuss what they see as the biggest issues facing the town. Newcomer Christine Labelle, incumbent …
Education

Scottsdale Unified governing board approves $462M budget

While students are away for the summer, Scottsdale Unified School District continues to plan for the coming year, with the governing board approving the district’s 2022-23 budget on July 12.
Politics

Paradise Valley candidates allege political harassment, file police reports

Two candidates seeking seats on the Paradise Valley Town Council in the upcoming election have filed police reports for alleged harassment and theft. The reports, filed in June with Paradise …
Neighborhoods

Scottsdale, Paradise Valley anticipate new licensing, permitting ordinances for short-term rentals

Scottsdale and Town of Paradise Valley officials say they plan to implement licensing procedures for short-term rental properties within their municipal bounds following a newly-approved …

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Real Estate

Lack of housing supply may wreck Phoenix economy

Low inventory and high housing prices are not just a real estate issue, one economist says, as the threat of economic development consequences across the Valley of the Sun grows more concerning. …
Government

Ducey signs new short-term rental bill into law

Arizona’s municipalities will now have some authority to permit and oversee short-term rental units within their boundaries. On July 6, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed Senate Bill 1168 into …
Election

Bien-Willner, Pace face-off at candidate forum

The candidates for mayor of Paradise Valley, incumbent mayor Jerry Bien-Willner and councilwoman Julie Pace, participated in a forum at the town hall June 28 to answer pressing questions about …
Government

Arizona Legislature passes bill that would allow permitting of short-term rentals

A new bill has passed the Arizona Legislature giving municipalities authority to issue licenses and permits to short-term rentals. Senate Bill 1168, which passed the Arizona Senate and House of …

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E-edition

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Opinion

Thank you, Paradise Valley! I am humbled by the overwhelming support shown by Paradise Valley residents for my re-election, and I am so honored to have earned your trust to continue serving as your …

Last week’s river of green voting envelopes streaming into town hall and inserted into drop boxes showed once again how much you care about our town and state. Thanks to each of you who …
This letter is to endorse Anna Thomasson for town council. I met Anna 12 years ago when we first moved to Paradise Valley. Anna was warm, welcoming, kind and gracious. Over the years she has been …
The candidates forum sponsored by the Independent gave more than a glimpse of individuals: we heard details about the fiscal health of our town and the inner workings of how well it has been managed …

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Living in Paradise
McKinley Paltzik speaks her way to national championship title
Barrow Neurological Foundation raised $42 million in 2022 fiscal year
Fundraiser
Free Arts hosts Art From the Heart auction Oct. 22

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Business & Education Reporting
Business
Foodie Watch

Chef Joey Maggiore to debut two new restaurant concepts in Scottsdale

Husband-and-wife duo, Chef Joey and Cristina Maggiore, are the restaurateurs and co-owners behind Scottsdale-based The Maggiore Group and are introducing two all-new concepts, The Rosticceria and The …
Philanthropy

PROST Phoenix-Scottsdale returns with its annual volunteer event

Community-led volunteering has been an important staple for nonprofit organizations looking to help out their neighbors; but after a drop in participation due to the pandemic, those Valley volunteer groups are just getting back to their usual programming.
Real Estate

New agent affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty

Theresa Frankel has returned to Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona as an affiliate agent with its Biltmore-Paradise Valley office. She comes to the office with 24 years of real estate experience. …
Food & Drink

Restaurant builds roots with Arcadia community

The Porch in Arcadia, which opened about six years ago, is a restaurant and sports bar that offers game nights, catering and pub food. Liza Loewenhagen, general manager of the establishment, said …
Philanthropy

My Sister’s Closet founder donates May proceeds to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation

Ann Siner, founder and CEO of My Sister’s Closet, has graciously donated in excess of $4 million throughout the years to various causes and charities, and this summer — in honor of the …

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Education

As the new school year kicks off, universities around the country continue to finalize their dean’s lists and make announcements about their latest graduates, including Arizona students hailing from Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

Scottsdale Unified School District had its first day of school on Aug. 3, welcoming back thousands of students and faculty to its 29 physical campuses. SUSD enrolls about 22,000 students across …

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Entertainment

Special live podcast event in Scottsdale Aug. 2

PodPopuli, the full-service retail podcast experience located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, is thrilled to be presenting its second Pod-A-Palooza, a unique live event featuring eight popular …

Kids learn the power of plants at Desert Kids Camp

Life has come back to the Desert Botanical Garden this summer with the Desert Kids Camp, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic started two years ago. With the installation of Chihuly in the …
Lewis Nash and Friends will open the new Ravenscroft Jazz Series with a performance on Sept. 17.

Scottsdale-based Ravenscroft announces 2022-23 jazz series

Ravenscroft, Arizona’s newest concert venue with a 200-seat concert hall and intimate jazz lounge, announces its 2022-23 jazz-series lineup and ticket packages.
Royse Contemporary curator/owner, Nicole Royse founded the gallery five years ago.

‘Summer Spectacular’ exhibits as Royse Contemporary celebrates 5 years

Royse Contemporary welcomes the annual “Summer Spectacular” group exhibition, featuring its stable of artists, with several special guest artists, in time for the gallery's fifth anniversary.
A signed Navajo wedding vase by Mary Manygoats.

‘Summer Market’ series ready to open at Fountain Hills museum

Signed Jemez pottery, Acoma pieces, art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with dish sets, decorative items and much more will be featured in the upcoming “Summer Market” in Fountain Hills.

To lick or not to lick: Scottsdale restaurant offers salt bricks for customers to purchase

After almost 15 years of business and a new location, The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale and its infamous Himalayan salt wall have received a bit of buzz for viral videos and images of patrons taking a taste of more than the restaurant’s tasty dishes.
Hole-in-the-Rock, the rock formation that looms over the Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park, is popular with both tourists and locals for its ease of access and view of the Valley.

Hole-in-the-Rock: Simple but significant Phoenix hike

Sitting in the shade on the cool stone of Hole-in-the-Rock, you wouldn’t know it’s a 105-degree Fahrenheit June afternoon in Arizona. Hole-in-the-Rock is a 5-to-10-minute, easy, short …

Phoenix Theatre production 'Americano!' defines the American immigration experience

All his life, three words meant more to him than any others he heard or read before them: honor, courage and commitment. Although he can’t articulate just exactly why those words shaped his …

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