Yes, technically we are into the season of Autumn, but unfortunately here in the Sun City communities, that doesn’t mean much 🤣 🥵

I hope you can get out and enjoy the slightly less scorching weather. 😎

In this week’s Scoop:

Have an amazing week out there…🙏

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~ Wait, That's Legal? Did you know Arizona allows motorcyclists to ride between stopped cars under certain conditions? It's called lane filtering, and it's legal on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or less, provided traffic is stopped and the motorcycle travels no faster than 15 mph. It's different from lane splitting at highway speeds, which remains illegal in Arizona.

Arizona law requires at least two adjacent lanes traveling in the same direction, and the maneuver must be done safely. So if a motorcycle slips past you at a red light, it might be perfectly legal, but weaving between moving cars is still against the law. (link)

~ Surprise is getting a Cheesecake Factory! The popular restaurant known for its enormous menu and, of course, dozens of cheesecake options is headed to Village at Prasada, near the Loop 303 & Waddell Road, adding another big-name dining option to the rapidly growing shopping and entertainment district. This location is expected to open in late 2027. (link)

~ Peoria makes $104 million investment in its water supply. With uncertainty surrounding Colorado River water supplies, Peoria is taking a big step toward securing its future. The City Council approved a $104 million deal to purchase water storage credits, land, and wells, adding the equivalent of approximately 1.5 million gallons of water per day to the city's supply for the next 100 years. The investment is designed to help Peoria weather potential water shortages while supporting the city's continued growth. (link)

~ Something You Don’t See Every Day: Canyon Lake is being lowered by about 54 feet for dam inspections and maintenance, exposing parts of the lakebed that normally haven’t seen daylight in decades. The lake itself is closed, but State Route 88 remains open, making this a pretty unique reason to make the drive from Sun Cities, take in the dramatically different scenery and maybe stop in Tortilla Flat while you’re out there. (link)

To learn more, visit Woodtaneous.com

Long before tech companies and sprawling subdivisions filled the Valley, Arizona farmers tried their hand at something considerably more unusual: ostrich ranching. And for a while, it was serious business.

The story began in 1888, when Phoenix-area farmers Josiah Harbert and M.E. Clanton brought a breeding pair and a group of young ostriches from California to the Salt River Valley. The introduction did not exactly go according to plan. Most of the young birds died during transportation, and one of the adult birds later died after eating barbed wire. Somehow, the surviving pair eventually reproduced, and by 1898 their descendants numbered nearly 100.

The reason anyone wanted thousands of giant African birds wandering around Arizona farms came down to fashion. Around the turn of the 20th century, ostrich feathers were enormously popular on women's hats, boas and other accessories, and the Valley's warm climate and plentiful alfalfa proved surprisingly well suited to raising the birds. By 1905, six commercial ostrich farms were operating in the Salt River Valley, along with privately owned flocks.

There was serious money involved. Chandler's official history notes that top-quality feathers could sell for as much as $250 per pound, while prized breeding pairs reportedly changed hands for $1,500 to $2,000. By 1913, Arizona had more than 6,000 ostriches, making the Valley one of the world's major ostrich-raising regions.

Then fashion changed.

Around the beginning of World War I, elaborate feathered hats fell out of favor and the ostrich-feather market collapsed. Arizona's boom went bust almost as quickly as it had grown. Thousands of birds that had once been valuable livestock suddenly weren't worth much more than ordinary farm animals.

The industry disappeared, but one very visible reminder remains. Chandler's Ostrich Festival, which began decades later, celebrates this strange chapter of Valley history and is still held annually. So the next time you see an ostrich associated with Chandler, there's a reason for it. Those birds were once part of one of Arizona's hottest investments.

DID YOU KNOW? Ostriches were apparently common enough in the Valley that they were listed as livestock on local tax rolls, right alongside more conventional farm animals.

[Sun City West] The Bash is back on Wednesday, September 23rd, with live music from The Audrey Hicks Band! Head on down for an evening of music, dancing, cornhole, cards and games, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the fun starting at 6. (link)

[Sun City] The Sun City Senior Expo & Resource Fair is coming to the Sundial Recreation Center on Wednesday, September 23rd, from 9 a.m. to noon. This free event brings together local resources covering health and wellness, senior living, home improvement, financial planning, travel and more, plus giveaways and door prizes. (link)

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre Join them for a matinee showing of DOG, on Thursday, SEPTEMBER 24TH, at 6pm (link)

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘CHIEF OF STATION’. Showtimes are Wednesday 9/23 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 9/26 at 2pm & 7pm at the MOUNTAIN MUSIC ROOM (New location). See the SEPTEMBER movie lineup here.

[Sun City West] Play a Little, Give a Little! Through Sept. 28, bring non-perishable food or toys to Palm Ridge Recreation Center during Monday and Wednesday cornhole sessions. Donors can stick around for a few games and will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win Sun City West branded cornhole bags! Each donor will receive a raffle ticket for the opportunity to win a set of Sun City West branded cornhole bags!

Raffle drawing will take place during the Sept. 30 Pop-Up Party at the R.H. Johnson Great Lawn.

Indoor cornhole is back at Palm Ridge Recreation Center every Monday and Wednesday in September, with games from 9 to 11 a.m. in Summit Hall B for RCSCW members of all skill levels. (link)

[Statewide] Oktoberfest is underway, and if you’re looking to get out and celebrate the season, there are a wide variety of events happening all across Arizona. Check out this list of 11 different Oktoberfest events.

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Friday Farmers Market has moved indoors for the summer, at the Sun City West Foundation. The market is open from 9am-1pm each Friday. (link & map)

[Sun City] The Sun City Farmers Market is sticking around for the summer, with new hours designed for early birds. Stop by Bell Recreation Center on Thursday mornings from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to browse fresh produce, baked goods, and offerings from local vendors. (link)

Have an event you want listed here? Please reach out!

[Glendale] If you’re looking to celebrate Oktoberfest locally, Haus Murphy in Historic Downtown Glendale is a great option, and they have a bunch of dates to suit your schedule. Learn more at their website.

[Sun City West] Desert Garden Plant Sales Return

The Sun City West Desert Garden Club kicks off its first monthly plant sale of the season Saturday, October 3, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Beardsley Rec Center Greenhouse, with cacti, succulents and other desert-friendly plants available. Sales are open to the public, and your purchase supports a good cause too, with the club donating $103,500 to local charities over the past four years while also funding educational programs.

For more details, please visit the SCW Desert Garden Club website at
https://garden.scwclubs.com.

[Sun City] 🎶 Sun City’s Fall Concert Series is almost here! The 2026 Sundial Fall Ticketed Concert Mini-Series kicks off November 4th, and individual tickets will be available for sale beginning on August 28th. (link)

The biggest IPO in history is live — $1.75T valuation, $135 open, $75B raised. And history says the retail investors who chase day-one hype are the ones who get burned.

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Our analyst pinpointed 3 stocks positioned to ride the SpaceX wave — with entry guidance and price targets, a bonus 4th pick (the most undervalued name in the sector), and a 3-phase playbook for when to buy and when to sell.

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🏡 Home of the Week: Can you really buy a condo for $25k in Sun City? You can, but the HOA dues start at $1,980 per month. 😮

There’s More to the Story. El Dorado of Sun City isn’t your typical condo community. That monthly fee includes meals, housekeeping, transportation, utilities, activities and other services, creating more of a resort-style, maintenance-free living experience than a traditional HOA.

See all the pics & details here for the unit priced at $25k.

Property listed by Ellen Baker with Realty ONE Group

J.D. Manning, the publisher of the Sun City Scoop, is also a local Realtor. If you have questions about the market or your specific real estate situation,
you can reach J.D. at (480) 797-8975

"Free Intro to Pickleball Lesson"  

The Intro Lesson is offered every other Wednesday, starting October 28th @ 11 am, currently held at the Mountain View Courts. (The lesson will move to the Marinette courts starting in December when the remodel of Mt. View starts)

Registration opens for Sun City Residents on September 28th for the October 28th Free Lesson. Learn more on the website.

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Some of the images you see in the newsletter are created using modern AI image tools. Whenever possible, I use my own photos from around Sun City and the West Valley, but sometimes it is helpful to generate an image that better illustrates a story or historical topic. These images are used simply to supplement the articles and help tell the story visually, not to mislead or deceive readers.