🚧 Big highway news & everything Halloween begins 🎃

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In this week’s Scoop:

• ADOT announces big plans for the 101 & 10 interchange 🚧

• Sun City Posse drug event canceled 💊

• Halloween is 10 days away but the fun events are starting this week 🎃

• And so much more!

COMMUNITY NEWS

~ ADOT is preparing a major construction project at the Loop 101 and Interstate 10 interchange in the West Valley, set to begin in spring 2026. The work will include new ramp designs, added HOV connections, and lane widening to ease congestion at one of metro Phoenix’s busiest interchanges, which carries about 300,000 vehicles daily. Drivers should expect significant lane closures and traffic impacts once work begins, with the goal of improving safety and reducing bottlenecks in the long run. (link)

~ The Drug Take Back event scheduled at the Sun City Posse Headquarters on Saturday, Oct. 25, has been cancelled due to the government shutdown. When the government reopens and agencies are functioning to capacity, the Drug Take Back will be rescheduled. The Sun City Posse apologizes for this inconvenience. (link)

~ The Sun City Lions Club will provide free health screenings during the Sun City Health and Wellness Expo put on by the Sun City Homeowner’s Association Wednesday, Oct. 29.

The screenings will include checking blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, body mass index, Diabetes screening and hearing tests.

There will also be students from the Midwestern University Dental Program providing oral cancer screenings, the university’s College of Optometry and Therapy School and the school’s Body Donation Program. Each of the Midwestern representatives will be able to provide information about their program. (link & link)

~ 📘 New Book to Celebrate Sun City West’s 50th Anniversary. The Sun Cities Area Historical Society has begun work on a new “Images of America: Sun City West” book in partnership with Arcadia Publishing, timed for the community’s 50th anniversary in 2028. Scheduled for release in early 2027, the book will mirror the popular Images of America: Sun City edition published in 2011, featuring vintage photos and stories highlighting five decades of Sun City West’s growth — from recreation centers and local clubs to the Sundome and community landmarks. All proceeds will benefit the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum, with museum volunteers compiling materials from the museum’s archives and Independent Newsmedia. Marketing Chair Bret McKeand, who helped create the original Sun City book, will again lead the project. (link)

~ Important Payment Update for SSA Recipients. SSA will issue the third wave of October benefit payments on Wednesday, October 22 to retirees, disability and survivor-benefit recipients whose original worker’s birth date falls between the 21st and 31st of the month. The payment schedule remains on track despite the federal government shutdown, and beneficiaries are reminded to ensure they have direct deposit or the Direct Express Card set up, paper checks are largely discontinued. (link)

ARIZONA TRIVIA

Last week’s trivia question was ‘What is the official gemstone of the State of Arizona?’

The answer was: Turqoise

Designated in 1974, turquoise has been prized for centuries by Indigenous peoples of the Southwest for its sky-blue and green hues. It’s often found in copper-rich areas, especially in mines near Bisbee, Kingman, and Morenci, and is commonly used in Native American jewelry and Southwestern art.

EVENTS

This Week

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Friday Farmers Market is BACK!!! The market is every Friday from 10am-2pm at the Lord of Life Lutherans Church. (link)

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘WHITE HOUSE DOWN’, The true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Showtimes are Wednesday 10/21 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 10/25 at 2pm & 7pm at the MOUNTAIN VIEW CENTER (New location).

[Sun City West] Talent Spotlight returns to the Kuentz Courtyard this month!

Join the Rec Centers at the Kuentz Courtyard for a one-hour FREE concert by various SCW artists each week and enjoy the talent they bring to the stage! Performances are every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon through October. Klaus Sander (inside Stardust Theatre) will be performing on Wednesday, October 22nd. (link)

[Sun City West] Summer evenings may be hot now, but when things start to cool down the Rec Centers will be ready with a pair of concerts at Beardsley Park this October!

This year’s Concerts in the Park series features music from the City Nights Band on Thursday, October 23rd. Grab your lawn chairs, pack up some food and drinks and join us at the park for these two great concerts!

[Surprise] 🎃 Surprise Monster Bash: Countryside Recreation Center will host the city’s annual Monster Bash from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at 15038 N. Parkview Place. The family-friendly event features dancing, games, arts and crafts, STEM activities, snacks, and a costume contest with six fun categories. (link)

[Sun City West] Sun City West Witches’ Ride 2025, “A Spooktacular Fundraiser for Benevilla.” This popular fall event will be held on Friday, October 24th, with the parade beginning at 330pm at Beardsley Park.

[Sun City] Sun City is hosting the Scarecrow Spootacular Halloween Costume Dance Party on Sunday, October 26th at the Sun Bowl, from 6-730pm. Street Player will be performing and there will be food trucks available for food & drinks.

Upcoming Events 

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre is back! Join them for a showing of HOCUS POCUS on Tuesday, OCTOBER 28TH at 6pm. (link)

[Sun City West] The Thaddeus Rose Band returns to Beardsley Park on Thursday, Oct. 30 for Halloween in the Park, a fun and spooky night that will be filled with great music, food and creative costumes from the residents that call Sun City West home. Get your spookiest costumes together and celebrate Halloween this year with Sun City West favorite Thaddeus Rose!

Gates for the event open at 5 p.m. with Thaddeus Rose taking the stage at 7 p.m. (link)

[Sun City West] Help the Recreation Centers of Sun City West celebrate the brave men and women who have served the country in the military with a free concert presented by the Surprise Pops on Tuesday, November 11th in the Palm Ridge Recreation Center.

The concert kicks off at 11am with doors opening at 1030. Tickets (two per rec card) are required and are available for purchase at the R.H. Johnson Box Office or online at suncitywest.com/tickets.

Weekly Events 

~ Fall is here and that means it is Pumpkin Patch season! There are many great events happening in & around Phoenix, as well as parts of Arizona. See all the details on the best local events here.

[Sun City] The Sun City Farmers Market is back at the Bell Center, on 99th Ave just south of Bell Road. The market will be held every Thursday from 9am-1pm. (link)

[Sun City] Desert Glow Farmers Markets is hosting their market, from 8am-12pm on Thursdays, at Desert Episcopal Church. (link & map)

[Surprise] Surprise Farmer’s Market, every Sunday from 3-7pm. A weekly market featuring fresh local ingredients, homemade goods, and artisanal crafts from nearby farms and ranches. (link & map)

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

I had someone suggest to me recently that the lovebird images from the newsletter would make a good puzzle. That is certainly an interesting idea. What do you think?

CLUBS

Palo Verde Artists of Sun City invites the public to visit their art gallery at the Sundial Recreation Center. The gallery features the artwork of Palo Verde Artists club members using various media including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, alcohol ink and graphite.

The club room is open 9 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 1-3 p.m. Saturdays and is located on the upper level of Sundial, 14801 N. 103rd Ave.

Learn more at PaloVerdeArtists.com

Want to have your club featured in the Sun City Scoop?

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

REAL ESTATE

HOME OF THE WEEK: What do you get for $139k in Sun City?

See all the details & pics here.

Listing brought to you by Marlene Cerreta with Cerreta Real Estate

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