Congratulations to the Arcadia Area's Den 8 Cub Scouts who have completed their Webelos Achievements and are ready to earn their Arrow of Light Badge, thus graduating to Boy Scouts.
Max Bradley, Daniel McCloskey, William Nickerson, Eric Oihus and Brandon Rosvall have worked really hard to earn their badges and we are all proud of them for their dedication and efforts.
Below are some phots taken during their Traveler Achievement, where they planned out an itinerary to travel to, buy tickets, then ride on the new Metro Light Rail from 38th St to Mesa and back. Max Bradley, Daniel McCloskey and Brandon Rosvall got to sit in the control cab of their train before it left the Sycamore/Main Street station on their return trip. (Sorry about the photo quality. I was taking the photos right into the sun.)
Brandon Rosvall on the Metro Light Rail
Daniel McCloskey on the Metro Light Rail
Max Bradley on the Metro Light Rail
One of the neat, and sometimes inconvenient, things about living in Arcadia is that every January the PF Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon runs through the area. The course heads north up 48th St along the linear park, then east on Indian School to Scottsdale. Our family loves to get up on these Sunday morning each year and cheer on the runners as they pay by our neighborhood. We often have friends running, and being at roughly the 15-mile mark, we provide a good pit-stop for fresh energy food, water and words of encouragement. Plus, the music is always fantastic.
This year the race was on January 18th and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. I think it was pushing 70 degrees by noon! We sat at the corner of Osborn and 48th St and listened to the local bands play their sets. I especially liked Sevencar Pile Up. With a name like that, how could they go wrong?!
Of course, on race day there isn't a whole lot else we can do. At least, there is nowhere we can go. We are virtually land-locked by the marathon and half-marathon cutting off our escape routes with road closures. The roads usually start to open up around 1:00, so we just needed to plan around it.
With the big Cardinals vs. Eagles NFC Championship game on at 1:00 that afternoon, the marathon was a great way to kill the time and quench the nervous anticipation.
Anyway, kudos to the Cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, PF Chang's and all of the sponsors and organizers who pulled off another great civic event. And, congratulations to all of the runners that competed. I envy you all. It was one of my life goals to run a marathon. Maybe someday...
How many others here in the western Arcadia area were woken up at around 2:00 am this morning by jackhammering? Was it road construction at 44th St & Indian School? I understand that the city needs to work on the roads at night when there is less traffic, but jackhammering? C'mon! There has to be some kind of noise ordinance against this. I know I can't blast the radio at 2:00 am. If it wasn't there, then where was it? We live near 48th and Indian School and it was loud enough to wake us up through our open windows. (By the way, don't you love this time of year with the A/C off and the fresh, cool air blowing through the windows?)
So, here a note to the city or whomever it was: Stop jackhammering in the middle of the night!
Thank you!
Every few weeks I like to Google what's new in Dubai. There is so much energy and creativity in their architecture that it's inspiring to just take it all in. When I first moved to Phoenix in 1994, I felt the same energy here compared to my hometown of Portland, OR. Now, it seems like Phoenix has lost its vision of what it could be when it grows up. Yes, the lightrail, ASU and T-Gen will draw new development downtown, and the new convention center and Sheraton Hotel are nice, but hardly are they international landmarks that leave an imprint on the imagination. We need buildings that will give Phoenix an identity. I found the newest building to be announced in Dubai, the Atrium City Towers, which I posted below. As creative as they are, they will simply blend into the visionary mix in Dubai. However, at over 100 stories, if something like the AC Towers were to be built in architectually bland Phoenix, it would become an instant internationally recognized landmark. It could be the Eiffel Tower or Sydney Opera House of Arizona. Heck, they even look like they could have been inspired by our majestic Saguaro Cactus. Take a look and let me know if you agree...
Atrium City Towers, Dubai
AC is a cluster of three supertowers - rising above 100 floors, to be connected at base with an atrium and with skybridges.
BRIDGE OVER PUDDLED WATERS
The City of Tempe, AZ, and Otak are making it easier for walkers and bicyclists to get across Tempe Town Lake, one of the area's most popular outdoor destinations. Otak's Tempe office, along with T.Y. LIN International, is designing a unique new pedestrian bridge over the Town Lake Downstream Dam. City officials want a bridge that blends art, architecture, and engineering in what it hopes will become a new icon for the city. When complete, the bridge will connect bike and pedestrian paths on the north and south sides of the lake, as well as provide a link both to Scottsdale's Indian Bend Wash path system and to Tempe's downtown Mill Avenue District. Preliminary designs are for four 240-foot spans, constructed on the existing piers of an inflatable rubber dam. The 16-foot wide walking/biking surface will be at least 16 feet across, enabling multiple bikers, runners, walkers or sightseers to pass each other simultaneously. Part of the long-term goal is to create a complete loop around Tempe Town Lake. Otak is providing architectural design, landscape architecture, civil engineering, public outreach and survey services. As with many Otak projects, the overall design will also incorporate public art. This pedestrian bridge is one part of the improvements planned for the area. For information on how Otak can help with your project design email us.
I came across the above article on the Otak website. This is the best idea I've heard in a long time. A few months back I read a story about how the inflatable dams of Tempe Town Lake are deteriorating in our harsh sun faster than expected, to a replacement cost of many millions of tax dollars. My initial thought was why not build a shade structure over the dam(s) to keep the sun off? They could create all kinds of architecturally interesting styles to create the shade, perhaps modeling something along the lines of SkySong in Scottsdale. This, however is PERFECT! I've ridden my bike up and down the north water front many times and I always thought it'd be cool to cut over a bridge to the south side on the west end. This pedestrian and cyclist bridge is the perfect solution. It looks architecturally interesting as well. Kudos to whoever thought this one up. Let's hope that Mayor Hallman and the City Council approves the plan.
Dennis is a Real Estate Broker serving Arcadia, Scottsdale and the Phoenix Metro Area since 1995. He currently serves as a Director of the Scottsdale Area Assoc. of REALTORS and as a marketing coach.
Dear Friends and Neighbors!
I'd like to use this blog to share some exciting news with you regarding our local schools here in Arcadia, this great community we live in, and the real estate market. In fact, many of you have contributed to what I'm about to share. So, I'm very grateful and want to extend a heartfelt thank you. I also hope that you will join me to discuss all that is great in this wonderful neighborhood that we call home.
In 1994 my wife, Jennifer (Castle), and I moved back into the Arcadia area from Portland, OR to the home she was born and raised in. Wanting to put down new roots, I started my Real Estate Practice with a local RE/MAX office serving the Arcadia and Scottsdale areas. My wife went to work for America West Airlines, and together we raised our two children, putting them through Arcadia Montessori and the Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center (ANLC). With both of our children being special needs kids, we became very involved with Phoenix Children's Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, Heart-2-Heart, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Our son Brandon received his Wish in 2003 with much fanfare, having his bedroom turned into a fire station. He's doing great today, and I have gone on to coach him in Arcadia Little League for four years, and have served as his Den Leader in Arcadia Cub Scouts for just as long. Jennifer has since become a popular substitute teacher at ANLC, and acted as our daughter Elizabeth's Girl Scout Leader for many years.
Because of my community involvement here in the Arcadia area since 1994, and the reputation that I have achieved nationally working with national transferees moving to and from Arizona, I have been awarded a coveted seat on the Parent Relocation Council. The scrutiny to become a PRC Council Member is tough, and in fact, I am the only one who has even been awarded a seat from the Arcadia area. Furthermore, money couldn't buy me a seat on this Council. PRC is all about providing exceptional customer service to buyers and sellers. I had to satisfy stringent, qualifying criteria before I could be seated on this elite Council. In fact, PRC regularly survey's my clients and if I don't maintain my level of Client Satisfaction, I can lose my seat on the Council. Across the country, only the most accomplished and credentialed REALTORS® are accepted for Council Membership. I am honored to have been chosen as one of them.
Founded in the mid 1990's, PRC launched http://www.parentrelocationcouncil.org/ in 2004 and became the nation's only consumer-centric organization dedicated to helping buyers and sellers avoid tragic and heartbreaking real estate transaction disasters by offering a way to separate EXPERIENCED REALTORS® from the inexperienced and often negligent real estate agents. The people at PRC realized that 90% of new licensees don't last in the business more than four years, and unfortunately, the unsuspecting buyers and sellers don't know the right questions to ask to tell the experienced from the inexperienced. PRC solved that problem by awarding Council Membership only to the best REALTORS® in each community, giving consumers an opportunity to buy and sell with confidence. PRC has now grown to help consumers on a daily basis across all 50 states.
Like the folks at PRC, I realized many years ago that buying and selling a home is probably the most stressful business transaction most people experience in their life. And, because people don't buy and sell homes every day, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the tons of information available on the Internet. I help you sort it all out. I can help simplify the process. Along with PRC, I am your ‘silent family member' who you can depend on to make any impending move - across the nation or across the street - less scary and more comfortable."
Since I am the only agent awarded Council Membership in the Arcadia area, I am the only REALTOR® that has access to PRC's relocating buyers. This can be a big help to you - if you are selling. In addition, because PRC is a relocation company, I can extend exclusive relocation benefits to you for your local move that previously have only been available to national transferrees; an offer that can save you thousands of dollars if you are buying or selling.
I invite you to follow my blog and visit the website yourself. As always, I'm here to help with any real estate, school and community needs you may have. For more information about my role in the Parent Relocation Council® or if I can be of any help with your real estate related needs, just give me a call at 480-232-0948 or Email me at DennisRosvall@REALTOR.com
All my best,
Dennis Rosvall
Hello! and thank you for for visiting my blog www.LivingInArcadia.com. I am Dennis Rosvall, an Associate Broker and top-producing agent with RE/MAX Achievers in Arcadia, Scottsdale, and the Phoenix Metro Area. Since 1995, I have been specializing in using the Internet to help families just like yours BUY and SELL residential real estate throughout the Valley of the Sun. As a veteran REALTOR, I am experienced in guiding you through your entire moving process. I am proud to be the first and only REALTOR in the Arcadia area to be selected to be a Council Member of the Parent Relocation Council. This elite status has opened up many doors and resources to help me serve my clients better. My goal is to help you buy the house you want at a price you can afford, or use my EXCLUSIVE access to more relocating buyers from throughout the country to help you sell your home faster with the highest proceeds to you. I believe in using my EXPERIENCE in finance, contracts, negotiating, and marketing to your best advantage, and I pledge to provide you with state-of-the-art, world-class service before, during, and after every transaction.
Not only do I sell a lot of homes, I also make a lot of FRIENDS along the way. People TRUST me for my knowledge, honesty, and integrity. The pride I take in my real estate services are at a level that I'd expect when dealing with other professionals - treat everyone fairly, honestly, and with respect, while working to obtain for them the very best. You may have a family doctor and a family dentist. Well, I want you to think of me as your family REALTOR because I will always be here to answer your questions, and give the extra PERSONAL TOUCH that I hope will bring you back again and again with your real estate needs. I hope that you give me the opportunity to earn that trust.
My wife, Jennifer, and I raise our two beautiful children, Elizabeth (1993) and Brandon (1997) in the Arcadia neighborhood, along with our two St. Bernards, Sophie & Lily. I serve on the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors Board of Directors, Chairman of the RE/MAX Northeast Valley Tour, Office Ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network, member of the SAAR Leadership Team, Branch Manager of our office in East Scottsdale, Cub Scout Den Leader, and as a former Arcadia Little League Head Coach of my son's team. My sales have regularly placed me in the RE/MAX 100% Club, and I was twice nominated for Scottsdale "Realtor of the Year". I was awarded my State of Arizona Broker License in 2000. Preceding my real estate career, I had a 5-year sales career in Specialty Advertising in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, and obtained my BBA in Marketing and Economics at the University of San Diego (1990).
I hope that we will have the chance to work together in the future. Until then, all of my best to you and yours!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
