As we celebrate America's 250th birthday this Independence Day, I want to thank each and every one of you for being part of the Sun City Scoop community. Whether you've been reading since the beginning or just recently joined us, I'm grateful you've chosen to spend a few minutes of your week with us.

Here's to 250 years of freedom, resilience, and opportunity, and to the communities we call home. I hope you have a safe, memorable Fourth of July filled with family, friends, and a little time to appreciate the remarkable country we're fortunate to live in. Happy Independence Day!

In this week’s Scoop:

Have an amazing week out there…🙏

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~ A new chapter has begun for a familiar Sun City location. The Carnivore Store has officially opened in the former Al's Meat Market space, bringing a fresh selection of premium meats, handcrafted sausages, and specialty butcher offerings to the neighborhood. For longtime residents who remember Al's, it's great to see the iconic butcher shop location serving the community once again. (map)

~ The Sun City Bell Stitchers sewing club at Bell Recreation Center is asking the community to help keep its charitable work going by donating fabric, sewing supplies, yarn, batting, and other crafting materials. The volunteer group creates handmade blankets, clothing, and comfort items for local charities and people in need, giving unused supplies a second life while making a difference throughout the community. Read the full article at YourValley.net

~ A group of Sun City West neighbors, the “Franciscan Flag Team”, is carrying on a patriotic tradition by lining their street with American flags in honor of Independence Day. Residents are invited to take a drive through the neighborhood this Fourth of July and enjoy a simple but meaningful display of community pride and American spirit.

You can see the flags on Franciscan Drive between 138th Ave & Aleppo Drive in Sun City West. See this on the map or read the full article on YourValley.net

~ The Valley is full of events for Independence Day and some of the best ones are the fireworks shows. AZ Central has put together a guide of all the best ones happening now through the holiday. See all the details at AZCentral.com

~ A 56-year-old Buckeye man has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after repeatedly aiming laser pointers at U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets training near Luke Air Force Base. Authorities say the laser strikes endangered pilots, and investigators ultimately caught the suspect after an FBI surveillance aircraft recorded the beams coming from his backyard. (link)

Hidden in the foothills of South Mountain is one of Arizona's most unusual landmarks, a hand-built castle created from found materials, imagination, and a promise.

Just a few miles from downtown Phoenix sits a place that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

With its stone towers, winding staircases, stained-glass windows, and quirky architecture, Mystery Castle has puzzled and delighted visitors for nearly a century.

But what makes the castle truly remarkable isn't its appearance. It's the heartfelt story behind why it was built.

Read the full article here.

In 1990, after years of practicing medicine and reviewing Van Gogh’s case history via his hundreds of letters, Arenberg published a paper in JAMA diagnosing Van Gogh as suffering not from epilepsy, as the artist’s physician claimed a century earlier, but from Ménière’s disease, an inner-ear affliction that can cause vertigo, of which Van Gogh complained, and tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears. Ménière’s, to Arenberg, could better explain Van Gogh’s decision to slice off his ear. After retiring, in 2017, Arenberg recommitted himself to studying Van Gogh and became convinced that art historians had made an even more alarming mistake: Van Gogh had not committed suicide. He’d been murdered.

Read the article for free on Air Mail, a lively digital read for the world citizen, with stories both foreign and domestic that you won’t find anywhere else, written by some of the world’s finest journalists.

Read the Article

Double the Shine, Same Great Price

Your windows work hard all year. Give them the cleaning they deserve. Right now, when you schedule an exterior window cleaning, you'll receive a complimentary interior window cleaning as well.

Tell Jason you saw this in the Sun City Scoop, and you’ll get screen brushing at no extra charge!!

Locally owned. Professional service. Crystal-clear results. Call (602) 554-2804 to schedule your cleaning. Or visit StreakFreeAZ.com

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES’. Showtimes are Wednesday 7/1 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 7/4 at 2pm & 7pm at the MOUNTAIN MUSIC ROOM (New location). See the JULY movie lineup here.

[Sun City West] Jazz, rock, country – get a wide sampling of music styles at this year’s Sun City West Sizzling Summer Series inside the air conditioned Palm Ridge Rec Center. (link)

Performances are scheduled for July 1st, all of which fall on Wednesday. All shows begin at 5 p.m. with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.

Aragon Ping Band will be performing on Wednesday, June 17th. Playing a range of music from country to classic rock, The Aragon Ping Band covers your favorites. The Aragon Ping Band is comprised of four exceptionally talented musicians, who individually have a stellar bio. Collectively, Robert Aragon on lead vocals; Doug Ping on Telecaster guitar and vocals; Scott Smith on guitar, keyboard and vocals; and Layne London on bass guitar and vocals form the all-star Aragon Ping Band.

Sun City West] Jazz, rock, country – get a wide sampling of music styles at this year’s Sun City West Sizzling Summer Series inside the air conditioned Palm Ridge Rec Center. Nevada Landing will be performing on July 1st. (link)

Sun City West is hosting a variety of Celebrate America 250 events. See all the info here.

[Sun City West] Celebrate America with some all American Jazz!

Lindsey Benedict and the Phoenician Blend are coming to Sun City West on Thursday, July 2nd for this special concert inside the Stardust Theatre. (link)

[Sun City] The 48th Annual Ring That Bell Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 4th at the Bell Center Social Hall. The ceremony begins at 9am. The Sun City Poms will be performing, you won’t want to miss it!

[Sun City] Are you looking for something fun and uplifting to do the weekend of July 4th? On Sunday, July 5th at 6:00 p.m. come and celebrate the USA with a patriotic concert at Bellevue Heights Church. This event is very popular so get there early! (map)

[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!

[Sun City] Rec Centers of Sun City “HOT FUN OUTTA THE SUN” concert series is happening on Wednesday, July 8th at the Sundial Recreation Center. Come out for the LEGENDARY BLUES ARTIST WILL JOHNS (link)

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre Join them for a matinee showing of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, on Thursday, JULY 9TH, at 6pm (link)

[Sun City West] This summer, fill your calendar with some entertainment and get out of the Arizona heat as Stardust Theatre welcomes a great lineup of talented musicians, along with a hilarious comedy act, to perform in Sun City West as part of the “Live At Stardust” summer event! Cafe Flutes will be performing on Thursday, JuLY 9th at 2pm.

Taking place inside the air conditioned Stardust Theatre, located on the Kuentz Recreation Center, members can enjoy a variety of shows on Thursdays during the months of July and August at 2 p.m. Doors for each show open at 1:30 p.m. (link)

HOME OF THE WEEK: It’s hot, and you need a pool!! This home in The Grand has a newly renovated pool with a water feature, and it won’t break the bank. (link)

Property listed by Daniel Hayes with Axen Realty, LLC

Sun City Players Community Theater - invites you join us for a potluck dinner and entertainment on the 2nd Saturday of the month during the summer months at the Fairway Center. On Saturday, July 11, 2026 you will be treated to a "musical tribute." No R.S.V.P. is necessary. Please bring a potluck item, plates, silverware, and beverages. The potlucks are open to all Sun City residents with an RCSC Member ID card. In addition, the Readers Theater Ensemble (RTE) sessions will be on summer hiatus for July and August. The next session will be on September 5, 2026. For more information, contact Ray Schiel at 323-336-5437 or via email at [email protected].

Please reply to this email or send details on your club to [email protected]

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