City News The Annual Tour de Scottsdale Switches Gears, Registration Now Open THE ANNUAL TOUR DE SCOTTSDALE BENEFITTING THE MCDOWELL SONORAN CONSERVANCY WILL SWITCH GEARS THIS YEAR TO NAVIGATE THE EVOLVING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. After careful consideration for public health and safety, DC Ranch made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person event on Market Street. A virtual event, held October 12-18, will allow hundreds of road warriors to keep the cycling spirit alive, stay active and healthy, while still supporting the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Riders will have several registration options to complete ride miles on their own. Participants can
ride the official Tour de Scottsdale courses, log miles around their city, or even in their home on a trainer. In addition to the traditional 30 and 70-mile rides, the virtual event will introduce a new 15-mile course and 5-mile fit family ride. The event beneficiary is the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization that protects and promotes the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale. With over 30,500 acres and 200 miles of trails, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve in North America and the fourth largest urban preserve in the world. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the Sonoran Desert
and mountains. The nonprofit protects this living treasure and offers events and activities in the Preserve so that everyone can enjoy a family-friendly, natural experience, according to the Conservancy. Now in its 17th year, the Tour de Scottsdale donates 100 percent of sponsorship proceeds and a portion of registration fees to the Conservancy and has raised over $600,000 to date. Those who register and complete any of the distances will receive a commemorative, distance-unique medal, a virtual goodie bag and perks—along with all the bragging rights. Registration is now open. Visit TourdeScottsdale.net for details.
Scottsdale FD Invites Community to Participate in Virtual 9/11 Commemorative Event ANNUALLY, THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT (SFD) COORDINATES A SPECIAL EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE ATTACKS OF 9/11.
an in-person event, SFD is celebrating the National Day of Service with an idea sparked by the organization 911Day.org and using social media to tap into the human spirit.
Fire Chief Tom Shannon. “With this campaign, we hope that everyone takes even just a moment to share in that mission and remember our brothers and sisters who gave their lives that day.”
On the fifth and tenth anniversaries, a pop-up museum showcased larger-than-life displays in the Scottsdale Center of the Performing Arts. On the other years, a small ceremony in the police and fire headquarters lobby featured the reading of the names of the public safety members who died that day.
In 2012, 911Day.org launched the #IWill campaign to encourage everyone to do something good in their community. This could being there for someone who needs it, making a charitable donation, or packing meals for local food banks.
Participating is easy. Individuals or groups simply take a photo holding a piece of paper with a personal pledge to honor those lost on 9/11 by doing something good. Photos can be posted on their individual social media accounts using the hashtags #IWill and #WeCare (tagging @ScottsdaleFire). The photos can also be emailed to Fire@ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Photos of completing the pledge are encouraged, too. The department will begin sharing the photos during the week of 9/11 starting Monday, September 7.
This year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, the fire department knew it had to be creative to continue to honor the day and those lives lost. Instead of
Scottsdale Fire is capitalizing on this do-good campaign and bringing it to the local community. “Our mission is ‘We Care for You,’” says Scottsdale
4 • September 2020 • THE SCOTTSDALE STANDARD
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