Scottsdale bought up 4,420 acres of state land trust for $86 million in December, and is now gearing up to improve trailhead access to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, reports The Arizona Republic. A state grant provided $36 million to the city for the land deal. The preserve is now two-thirds of the way toward the city’s acreage goal.

The Ice Den in North Scottsdale has its third sheet of ice up and running. The project was completed by RJM Construction. "We are looking forward to new programming and our transition to turf this spring/summer," said Renee Moore, public relations representative. "This third rink opens up so many possibilities for non-ice and non-sports events, more team buildings, etc."

Source: AZCentral.com 
Scottsdale City Council could reconsider a roundabout at Northsight Boulevard and Hayden Road after favoring a traffic signal back in October. A presentation on two options is scheduled for Jan. 10. More: http://bit.ly/tYrLGv

Source: AZCentral.com
Police arrested three Mesa residents early Jan. 2 on suspicion of burglarizing the Apple Store at the Scottsdale Quarter. Shots were fired at a cab driver who attempted to follow the suspects’ vehicle out of the shopping complex. All the suspects were found in the Airpark area. More: http://bit.ly/uDGZKv.

The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare will be one of four centers in the U.S. participating in a new study to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center recently celebrated a decade of service to the community through cancer treatment, research and support.

BizBox, the new solar-powered mobile marketing tool that allows businesses to take their products and services directly to their customers, has tripled its staff, adding 25 new team members and positions to the company. BizBox CEO Rick Sikorski said the additional staff are in areas of sales, marketing and training. Sikorski plans to hire up to 300 sales representatives and is actively recruiting prospects for the positions nationwide. Powered by solar technology, BizBox transforms within minutes from a mobile "Branded Box" to an office, showroom, food or medical retail store or display center. The company is located on the Greenway-Hayden Loop. More: bizbox4u.com.

PK Enterprises has started construction of the Gateway 101 shopping center northeast of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and the Loop 101 frontage road, reports The Arizona Republic. The 33,300-square-foot project has signed leases with the Vitamin Shoppe, Starbucks, Teharu Sushi, Pet Club, Bruegger's Bagels and Jersey Mike's Subs.

West USA Realty has purchased a new Kierland office for its 350 agents in the Northeast Valley, according to azcentral.com. The new office, which the agents will move into in January, is about a block from a building the company leased for 12 years. Stearns Bank was the seller.

After 10 years Developers who hope to build a 220-acre dude ranch-style development called Reata Ranch are asking the Scottsdale Planning Commission for needed zoning and general-plan amendments. The project, which borders the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, would include 330 guest-ranch units.

• Interior design firm Blue Desert Interiors opened a new design studio in Scottsdale at 14421 N. 66th Place.
  
  
• Al’s Beef has reopened under new ownership in the same location at 14740 N. Northsight Blvd.
  
  
• Twin Peaks is set to open its first Arizona sports restaurant in Scottsdale this month at 8787 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
  
  
• Custom-video creation and marketing agency WireBuzz has moved to new offices in the Scottsdale Airpark at 7762 E. Gray Road.
  
  
• The Body Lab, Arizona’s first licensed SPX Fitness studio, opens its second location in North Scottsdale this month. The new studio is located in Hayden Peak Crossing.
  
  
• Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites Hotel has named Michelle Mason the new director of sales and marketing, and Jerry Halbert as general manager.