September is here, and after a long summer, seeing temperatures finally dip below 100 degrees feels like something worth celebrating! Even if it may only be temporary…

This week, we’re taking a look at some fascinating Sun City history, including the story behind those familiar street names and the community’s distinctive circular neighborhoods. We’re also heading north to the Grand Canyon, where recent flash flooding caused major damage to the park’s critical water system and could impact visitors for some time. Grab some pumpkin spice coffee, enjoy the cooler weather for a minute, and let’s get into this week’s Scoop!

In this week’s Scoop:

Have an amazing week out there…🙏

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~ Flash Floods Deal Major Blow to Grand Canyon. Devastating flash floods at the Grand Canyon damaged or destroyed an estimated 40% of the park’s 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, the critical pipeline supplying water to the South Rim and other park facilities. The disaster comes while a more than $200 million project to replace the aging system was already underway, and officials say miles of pipeline may ultimately need to be repaired or replaced. With work in the rugged canyon often requiring helicopters, the damage could mean a lengthy recovery, continued water restrictions and disruptions for visitors, including the suspension of overnight lodging on the South Rim. Park officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage, so the long-term impact on visitors and the pipeline replacement project remains uncertain. (link)

~ Do you have old computers sitting in the garage or closet you’ve been meaning to get rid of but were not sure what the proper method was? I’d had four big desktop computers I’ve been moving from house to house over the past 20 years, with good intentions of disposing of them, but I didn’t know how to.

I recently took mine to Emerald Computers in Sun City, where you can simply drop off old desktops, laptops and other computer equipment for recycling. From there, the equipment is taken to their main recycling facility, where data on storage drives is securely erased before usable computers and parts are refurbished or reused. Anything that can't be reused is broken down and sent to certified recyclers here in the U.S., keeping the electronics out of the landfill, and Emerald says one out of every 10 refurbished computers they process is donated to a local family, student or nonprofit.

You can learn more at their website or visit their location in Sun City at 99th Ave & Bell Road.

~ Speeding through residential neighborhoods continues to be a concern, especially on streets where people are walking, biking, crossing the road or backing out of driveways. Saving a minute or two isn't worth putting a neighbor at risk, so please ease off the gas and help keep our streets safe for everyone.

See what Sun City West is doing to help combat speeding in their community, in this article from YourValley.net

~ 🕰️ What did Sun City leave behind 50 years ago? The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum and RCSC will open a time capsule from 1976, on November 15th at the Sundial Recreation Center, revealing its mysterious contents, including letters written 50 years ago specifically for Sun City residents of today. Read the full article at YourValley.net

If opening your latest electric bill gave you a little sticker shock, your AC may not be the only problem. Insufficient attic insulation can let Arizona’s brutal summer heat work its way into your home, forcing your air conditioner to run longer just to keep you comfortable.

Upgrading your blown-in attic insulation can help lower energy bills, improve comfort, reduce AC run times, and cut down on wear and tear on one of the most expensive systems in your home.

Don’t pay an AC company to mark up someone else’s insulation work. Synergy Systems, Cooler Home Solutions installs blown-in attic insulation directly, helping you avoid the middleman and get more value from your investment.

Lower your bills. Lighten the load on your AC. Stay more comfortable year-round.

Contact Synergy Systems, Cooler Home Solutions today for an attic insulation evaluation and a FREE quote at (480) 329-3227

If you’ve ever driven through Sun City and wondered why names like Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Cherry Hills, Hogan, Palmer and Snead sound familiar, there’s a reason. Many of the community’s streets were deliberately named after famous golf courses and some of the biggest names in the game.

The man behind many of those names was John Meeker, one of the most influential figures in Sun City’s early development. Meeker’s connection to golf went back to his childhood, when he worked as a caddie at Phoenix Country Club. One of the golfers whose bag he regularly carried was none other than Del Webb.

After serving in the Air Force during World War II, Meeker went to work for Webb in 1946. He started as an errand boy and steadily climbed through the company, eventually becoming president of the Del E. Webb Development Corporation. Along the way, he never lost his love for golf.

When Sun City was being developed, Meeker had the opportunity to leave a little of that passion on the map. Streets were named for legendary courses such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and Cherry Hills, while others honored golfing greats including Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead.

Some of the larger roads tell different stories. Del Webb Boulevard, of course, honors the developer whose retirement-community experiment became Sun City. Nearby Thunderbird Road actually predates Sun City’s golf theme. Its name comes from Thunderbird Field, a World War II flight-training facility for Allied pilots. Bell Road is named for early Valley farmer Harvey Bell, while Peoria Avenue takes its name from the neighboring community, which itself was named by settlers who came here from Peoria, Illinois.

So the next time you turn onto Snead, Palmer or Pebble Beach, remember that you’re not just following directions. You’re driving through a little piece of Sun City’s golf history.

[Sun City West] Looking for a fun way to stay active and beat the summer heat? 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)

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

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre Join them for a matinee showing of NORMA, on Thursday, SEPTEMBER 3rd, at 6pm (link)

[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 West] An Evening with The Phantom & The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Sept. 10 show sold out; limited tickets available for Sept. 9!

The originally scheduled “An Evening with The Phantom & The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” sold out so quickly, the Rec Centers have added another show! Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 9, for this 2 p.m. performance at Stardust Theatre (link)

[Sun City] Dust off your dancing shoes for Sun City’s Royal Autumn Ball, a festive evening that brings back the fun of senior prom! Enjoy music, dancing and a little friendly royalty as the evening includes the crowning of the Senior Prom King and Queen. Wednesday, September 16th. (link)

[Sun City West] Rockin’ & Roarin, featuring the Tokens. Responsible for some of music’s most well known songs throughout the sixties, including “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” catch The Tokens perform this September at Stardust Theatre!

This show begins at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17th, with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and go on sale Monday, Aug. 3. Members can purchase tickets online at suncitywest.com/tickets or in person at the R.H. Johnson Box office.

[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] 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)

🏡 Home of the Week: What do you get in Corte Bella for $1.275 million?

Luxury meets the golf course in this exceptional Figueroa floorplan in Corte Bella, tucked into a cul-de-sac overlooking the 13th fairway with two bedroom suites, a den and a three-car garage. The real showstopper is out back, where a heated pool, travertine decking, outdoor kitchen, firepit and sunset views create your own private resort, while inside you'll find an entertainer's kitchen complete with a butler's pantry and three built-in wine coolers.

See all the pics & details here.

Property listed by Paula Barrett Ruiz with HomeSmart

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

Sew 'N Sew Club - invites you to come out to the Sew N Sew Club's Open House to be held Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Center. You will find hundreds of lovingly made pieces including American Girl items, potholders, place mats, hats, dog-related and embroidery items. 

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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.