4 AUGUST 2018 Have you heard the one about the cheetah that walks into a bank? That might sound like the setup to a joke, but in Arcadia, it’s an actual story. Our neighborhood is known as a pet- loving area, with almost everyone seeming to have a cat or dog as an extra member of the family. But there are some among us with pets so unique that it would make almost everyone else do a triple-take. In our story on unique pets (page 40), we meet neighbors who take care of everything from zebras to camels, bearded dragons to mini-horses, and yes, even cheetahs. As we get ready to start the school year, the laundry list of to-dos can sometimes seem overwhelming. We’ve got you covered here, with a back-to- school checklist (page 52), ways to spice up breakfast on the weekdays (page 48), and coverage of backpack drives that help students and parents get what they need to start the semester (page 5). Our cover story highlights an organization that is teaching young girls how to skateboard like pros, all while helping them learn how to make a difference in their community (page 29). We’ve also got updates on Hopi’s remodeling (page 24) and on the 56th Street Transportation Project (page 38). Each September, the Arcadia News puts together a collection of summer vacation photos taken by readers during their June through August trips. It’s that time of the year already, and we want your photos. Show us where you went this summer and send your pictures to editor@arcadianews.com for a chance to be in our September issue. You may even make the cover! (Deadline is August 13). As always, I encourage you to reach out to me with any story ideas, suggestions or feedback. Many of our best neighborhood stories are made possible by readers who contact us. We hope you enjoy the August 2018 edition – and thank you for reading the Arcadia News ! — Nick Smith EDITOR’S NOTE By Kaylee Sumpter As the school year approaches, parents are doing everything they can to help our children prepare for another year of learning. A great way to not only keep informed of upcoming activities, but to get involved, is to check out the local parent-teacher organizations. Here are the PTO details for the five Arcadia complex schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District. ARCADIA HIGH SCHOOL PTO is being run by co-presidents Linda Schlenker and Cindy Krawczyk. Kelley Pierce, PTO member, notes that plans for the upcoming school year include planning for homecoming, the homecoming parade, a new football program, and athletic stadium. For more: arcadiapto.org. TAVAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO is being run by Carly Jimenez. Although the plans for the upcoming school year are still being formed, there is quite a bit that parents and community members can do to help. Parents can volunteer at events and can contact volunteer@tavanpto.com to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities. One of these opportunities includes linking your Fry’s card to Tavan, and each time you shop, money is donated to the school. For more: tavanpto.com. INGLESIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO has not announced its president or president-elect, as the positions are still open. The PTO is still planning this upcoming school year’s events, but there are still opportunities for the community to get involved. You can volunteer to sell Ingleside merchandise at events, help the Trojans Learning to Care program, garden and assist the bilingual program. There are also fundraising opportunities including becoming a PTO sponsor and buying an IMS MVP card. For more: inglesidepto.com. HOPI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA is being run by Kyle Christensen. Opportunities to help include volunteering with children at reading groups and garden clubs. There are also numerous fundraising opportunities that help put money back into the classrooms. You can always email volunteer@hopipta.com if you are interested. For more: hopipta.com. ECHO CANYON SCHOOL PTO is being run by Jenna Harden, and PTO meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month. The upcoming plans for the school year have not been confirmed, but the community can keep up with the PTO by subscribing to the mailing list, where the weekly “Week at a Glance” newsletter keeps everyone informed. The PTO website also lists a variety of volunteer, fundraising, and donating activities that parents and community members can read about. For more: echocanyonpto.com. Arcadia schools PTOs Samuel Greenblatt has been involved in Republican politics since the early 80s. He has worked with the national committees of several presidential candidates and      He is a successful technology executive. Vote on August 28, 2018 samgreenblatt1@gmail.com Paid for by Sam Greenblatt Samuel Greenblatt – Candidate Oaktree Republican Committeeman PRESCHOOL • KINDERGARTEN • AFTER SCHOOL Now accepting applications • Providing quality preschool, kindergarten, after school programs in a Christian environment. • Dedicated and experienced educators. • Wide variety of enrichment programs. • Low student to teacher ratio. To schedule a tour, call 602-955-5728 cccckids.com | 4601 N. 34th St. | /cccckids

5 AUGUST 2018 By Anthony Wallace Back to school season is an expensive one for a family. Equipping a child with the clothes, pencils, books, and bags they need for another school year can be a crippling financial burden for some. Nearly everyone recognizes the need for charitable giving around Christmas and Thanksgiving, but the truth is that late July can be just as, if not more, financially challenging for families with children. Scottsdale Community Partners (SCP) is a non-profit organization that has been serving the unmet needs of Scottsdale residents since 1975. People are often surprised to hear it, but despite popular notions, substantial poverty exists in Scottsdale. “Within the Scottsdale Unified School District, just under 6,000 students are living in poverty and some schools have over 80 percent of their student population receiving free or reduced lunches,” said Jenny Adams, executive director of SCP. It is for these students and their families that SCP, in conjunction with Scottsdale Unified School District and the city of Scottsdale, put on the annual Back-to-School Program. This year, the event took place on the morning of July 25 at Scottsdale Stadium. Thanks to a restructuring of its board and an increased integration with local government, businesses and faith communities, SCP has seen its many programs grow dramatically in recent years. The Back-to-School Program has expanded from serving around 350 students annually to nearly 1,100 last year. Excited children arrived at Scottsdale Stadium and got to pick out their own backpack, pencil bag, binder, notebooks, art supplies, writing utensils, shirts, a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, socks, underwear and a pair of shoes. But the preparation doesn’t end with supplies and clothes. Attendees also received dental screenings and wellness appointments provided by Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH). The average value of the school supplies and clothes each child receives is $200, a lifesaver for a family on a tight budget. Lead event organizer Nicole Denison sees the gratitude firsthand. She recalled a moment last year when she was met by a mother, “who, after I helped her to her car, turned to me with tears in her eyes, and said ‘Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to our family.’” The success of the event is dependent upon generous donations of time and money from community members. SCP remains committed to stretching donor dollars as far as possible. The cost of school supplies and fees have nearly doubled during the past ten years, according to the Huntington Backpack Index. That is why most of the supplies for the 2019 drive will be purchased later this summer when such items are on clearance. Directly following this year’s drive is an excellent time to contribute to the next one. “The truth is that most of us are a crisis or two away from needing help and our mission is to step in and help when people are most vulnerable,” Adams said. Donations are accepted in person, via mail, or online at: scottsdalecommunitypartners.org. SCP Back-to-School Drive preps students for success The Back-to-School Drive has grown to serve over 1,100 students last year. TAVAN SCHOOL DISTRICT SALES RESULTS 1/01/2018-6/30/2018 2017 Active Homes - 65 Homes Homes Sold - 121 Homes 241 Homes Average Sale Price - $647,000 $612,000 Average Sold $ Per SF - $270 $257 Average Days On Market - 87 days 78 days There is currently 3 months of home inventory. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 home sales have increased 0% this year. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 home prices have increased 5%. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 $ Per Square Foot prices have increased 5%. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 Homes are taking 10% more time to sell. ( Based on 2017 sales results) HOPI SCHOOL DISTRICT SALES RESULTS 1/01/2018-6/30/2018 2017 Active Homes - 166 Homes Homes Sold - 168 Homes 276 Homes Average Sale Price - $1,233,000 $1,140,000 Average Sold $ Per SF - $350 $332 Average Days On Market - 129 days 116 days There is currently 7 months of home inventory. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 home sales have increased 18% this year. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 home prices have increased 8%. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 $ Per Square Foot prices have increased 5%. ( Based on 2017 sales results) 2018 homes are taking 10% more time to sell. ( Based on 2017 sales results) Arcadia Real Estate Stats 5555 E Monterosa $ 949,000 4 bedroom/ 3 bath 3,096 square feet 18,274 SQUARE FOOT LOT IN THE HEART OF ARCADIA West USA Realty Cell: 602-625-6020 visit Tommy Atkinson .com