CITY NEWS
FREE WATER EFFICIENCY WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY SCOTTSDALE WATER DID YOU KNOW THAT SCOTTSDALE WATER OFFERS FREE WATER EFFICIENCY WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO HELP RESIDENTS LEARN HOW TO USE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AND YARDS? If you are interested in attending, check out their list of upcoming events: IRRIGATION, MAINTENANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR Get the basics on good maintenance practices, troubleshooting and techniques to keep your landscape irrigation system running smoothly from Irrigation Specialist, Jeff Lee. Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St
SCENT-SATIONAL GARDENING Do you delight in fragrant blooms and foliage that tantalize your sense of smell as well as your sense of visual style? If so, familiarize yourself with the best desert-adapted plants to create an enchanting scented landscape. Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St
FINDING AND FIXING LEAKS Join us during EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week” and get tips to find and fix leaks around the house. This workshop will take you through best practices and common problem areas to check when looking for leaks. Save water, money and empower yourself to be a leak detective! Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St LANDSCAPE CONTAINER GARDENING Learn the basics of landscape container gardening for patios or yard accents, as well as selection of plant size, shape and color to create intriguing arrangements. With the right container plants, you can even attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St MAXIMIZE YOUR IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY Are you puzzled by the irrigation system installed by the builder or previous owner? Learn how to identify the problems in your system and what to do about them. You may be surprised that ripping out the old
system and starting over is rarely needed. Date: Saturday, March 28, 2020 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St LEARN TO PRUNE: TREES Join us to learn the do’s and don’ts of tree pruning to maintain strong and healthy trees! Discover when to prune, how to identify what and where to prune, and the proper techniques for pruning. Also learn why lion-tailing and tree-topping are major don’ts! Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020 Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St SCOTTSDALE XERISCAPE GARDEN TOUR AT CHAPARRAL PARK Take a walking tour (2 miles) through the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden at Chaparral Park. See water-thrifty plants in action and have your desert plant questions answered by an expert. Date: Friday, April 17, 2020 Time: 10 a.m. to noon Location: Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden, 8111 E. McDonald Dr. Please park near Chaparral Dog Park. Do not park at the Chaparral Water Treatment Plant. Please note, online registration is REQUIRED for all guided Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden Tours. For other workshops, those who register are guaranteed a spot and registration is highly encouraged. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Register online at Scottsdaleaz.gov/water/ workshops/workshop-registration
ADOR: TAXPAYERS, BE ON LOOK OUT FOR IDENTITY THIEVES DURING TAX SEASON THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (ADOR) TREATS DETECTING AND STOPPING FRAUD WITH PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE AND REMINDS TAXPAYERS THAT TAX FILING SEASON IS A TIME TO BE AWARE OF IDENTITY THIEVES LOOKING FOR WAYS TO COMMIT TAX FRAUD. The department points to phishing schemes, card-skimming devices, unsecure Wi-Fi networks, data breaches, computer viruses, unsafe smartphone apps, and hacking email accounts as ways identities are stolen.
TIPS TO HELP PREVENT BEING THE VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT: • Do not carry identification with your Social Security Number (SSN) on it. • If someone wants your SSN, always ask why because it is not always required. • Keep personal and confidential information in a secure place. • Take extra precautions when discarding personal or confidential information. • Protect personal computers, smartphones, and other devices by using anti-virus software. • Use strong passwords and never share your passwords.
8 • March 2020 • THE SCOTTSDALE STANDARD
• Never give personal information through unencrypted email, social media, or text messaging. One scam that targets companies and continues to be reported is the W-2 scam, which is when a phishing email is sent to someone in a company’s human resources or payroll office that appears to be from an executive of that business and asks for payroll information containing confidential information, be emailed immediately. The Arizona Department of Revenue advises staff to never respond to the email, and instead, connect with the person whose name is on the email by phone or in person to confirm its
authenticity. ADOR recommends companies establish specific internal policies to address these requests and take steps to protect employee information. Arizonans can contact the Department of Revenue’s Identity Theft Call Center at (602) 716-6300, toll-free: 844-817-9691, or https:// azdor.gov/individual-income-taxinformation/identity-theft. The Arizona Department of Revenue’s fraud prevention system has stopped more than $120 million in fraudulent income tax refunds since 2015. thescottsdalestandard.com
