Israel at 75 Community Celebration
The Valley of the Sun JCC will offer an exciting, community celebration in honor of Israel’s 75th birthday on Sun., April 30, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nearly 50 local Jewish organizations will come together to host a fun, interactive event for all ages. There will be food trucks, a beer garden, arts and crafts, children’s games, live music, and more. Free admission. Open to all. The Valley of the Sun JCC is located 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd. Register at vosjcc.org/program/israel75.
Camelback Mountain Named Among ‘Best Mountain Climbing Destinations’ in the US
New research has revealed that Camelback Mountain in Arizona is America’s fifth favorite mountain climbing destination. The study by family vacation experts Family Destinations Guide analyzed Instagram hashtag data, TripAdvisor ratings, and TripAdvisor reviews of 600 mountainous destinations in America to assign every mountain a ‘Peak Score’ to reveal the best mountain climbing destinations in the country.
In the top fifth spot is Camelback Mountain, with a peak score of 17.2 points. It has garnered 2,548 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, with visitors describing their climbing experience as excellent and rewarding. On Instagram, visitors have recorded 221,091 posts under the hashtag #camelbackmountain, featuring photos of them in their active wear gear and the landscape of rocks and cacti. Mount Rainier in Washington tops the ranking with a peak score of 22 out of 30. It has 439,039 Instagram posts with the hashtag #mountrainier and a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor. The 14,410-foot elevation has 1,796 reviews on TripAdvisor, with visitors describing their mountain climbing experience as “a must-do.”
Senior Center Hosts Program to Aid Those with Hearing Loss.
A free four-week rehabilitation program is being offered to those with hearing loss or having trouble with everyday communication. The program takes place at 1:30 p.m. Mondays, April 3 to 24, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd. Arizona State University’s clinical faculty and graduate students host classes. Topics include what causes hearing loss, hearing technology, emotional and social effects of hearing loss, communication strategies, and self-advocacy skills. Family members and significant others of individuals with hearing loss are encouraged to attend. Registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3lokvKH.
Save the Date for the Scottsdale Art Auction
Significant American, western, wildlife, and sporting art are up for auction on April 14 and 15 at Scottsdale Art Auction, 7176 Main St. The over 400 works in the catalogue include paintings by renowned artists Logan Hagege, Ed Mell, Glenn Dean, Oscar Berninghaus, John Clymer, Bob Kuhn, John Coleman, and more. For details, visit scottsdaleartauction.com.
Photos courtesy of the Town of Paradise Valley
The Town of Paradise Valley recently welcomed two new staff members: Town Engineer Shar Johnson and Human Resources Director Gina Monger. Meanwhile, the Paradise Valley Police Department swore in Mallory Skinner as the newest dispatcher.
Shar Johnson has more than 25 years of diverse experience as a professional engineer and is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois and Arizona. Her career includes public sector work in the federal, state, and local levels and private sector work. Johnson has extensive experience in flood control management and capital improvement projects.
Monger brings to the town more than 20 years of professional HR experience in the public sector, including her most recent position as the human resources manager for Maricopa County. She is an expert in recruitment and retention strategies, as well as personnel development and policy development.
Meanwhile, Mallory Skinner was sworn in as a Paradise Valley Police Department dispatcher at the end of March by Police Chief Freeman Carney. Skinner first joined the PV police department in 2020 as a photo enforcement technician before moving to police records in 2021.
