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NEIGHBORS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020
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Iconic cowboy sign gets a long-overdue re-do BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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s businesses reopen and foot traffic picks up in the Old Town area, residents might notice a facelift on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street. The iconic “Most Western Town” cowboy sign received a fresh coat of paint by southern Scottsdale resident Patricia Badenoch over Easter weekend. “The weather was perfect,” she said. “Lots of families on bikes, strollers and even children with their training wheels still on now roamed the sidewalks and streets of Old Town taking advantage of no traffic.” Badenoch spent six hours repainting the sign Easter Sunday. While she used the same colors — red, blue, and tan for the chaps — what she did differently is repaint the original design
Southern Scottsdale resident Patty Badenoch gave the iconic cowboy sign on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street a facelift over Easter weekend. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)
for the rope around the lariat, which she discovered while scraping the old paint off. “That was fun seeing that original rope design,” she said. “And because I was raised on a ranch and had my own horse and so forth, I had a sense of a Western look.” Badenoch said, “It was evident much of the painting needed attention.” “About a year ago, I noticed that the paint was fading, particularly the one that faces out to the street because the sun hits it. The red was turning pink,” she added. Badenoch knew the quarantine was the best time to pack up a ladder, her paint and her brushes and paint the sign while the streets were unusually quiet for spring. This wasn’t Badenoch’s first time touching up the sign. The first time she repainted it was in 2006, with the help of Darlene Peterson, and again around 2013.
see COWBOY page 17
Children’s Hospital honors Scottsdale nurse BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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eralded as “healthcare heroes,” nurses have gone above and beyond to fight COVID-19, many flying to assist the hardest-hit parts of U.S. Locally, hospitals are recognizing their nurses’ achievements during this National Nurses Month, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which recently announced the recipients of their 16th annual Nursing Excellence Awards – including Northern Scottsdale resident Gretchen Schwindt, named this year’s Transformational Leader. “It’s very exciting, for sure,” Schwindt said. The Transformational Leader Award recognizes nurses who “embody a lead-
Northern Scottsdale resident Gretchen Schwindt received the Transformational Leader award from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she works as a clinical manager. (Gretchen Schwindt)
ership style that fosters an environment where nurses feel their voices are heard, their input is valued, and their practice is supported.” Children’s Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Julie Bowman said Schwindt received numerous nominations for the award. “It’s so exciting that she was nominated and selected by staff and she is very deserving of this award,” Bowman said. “As a tenured nurse but new clinical manager, Gretchen has natural leadership abilities with a spirited approach to leading improvement work in her clinical area of responsibility.” Schwindt may be relatively new to the role of clinical manager – taking the position in August – but she’s been at Children’s nearly 17 years. After 14 years in the neonatal intensive
care unit, she transitioned to nurse coordinator, working for a fetal care program. “My plan was always to be in leadership,” Schwindt said. So, when her colleague Jennifer Mutascio asked if she’d like to take on her position as clinical manager, it was an easy “yes.” “It definitely helped that she sought me out and that she knew what her team wanted and needed. I think that’s what made the easy transition for me to come in,” Schwindt said. “Well deserved,” “one of my favorite nurses,” and “a true leader and wonderful person” are just a few ways Schwindt’s team describes her. “It was really exciting for sure to be
see GRETCHEN page 17
