Two long-time city employees are retiring |

It was 1982.

Michael Jackson made his way to the top of the radio charts. “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” left film fans crying in amazement.

Herb Drinkwater was in the middle of his first of four terms as mayor of Scottsdale.

And Christy Hill started working in the Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Department.

Now, 42 years later, she is retiring.

She said she considers herself “blessed” to have spent more than four decades working in parks, recreation and civic services “in this wonderful city.”

“The city has witnessed my life,” she added, “and I have been cared for and supported the entire way by the wonderful people who make up this city family.”

She plans to set up a recording studio, practice Pilates with her 89-year-old father, and pursue home design, reading and traveling.

To celebrate her retirement, Christy invites friends, colleagues and community members to “Cookies on the Couch with Christy” on Monday, December 9 at 2 p.m. in the Community Design Studio.

Another longtime Scottsdale employee, Sky Larsen, retired from the Scottsdale Public Library last week — after 25 years with the city.

She started as a contract supervisor at the Palomino and Arabian libraries in 1999 before becoming a circulation assistant at the Arabian Library in 2000.

Over the years, Sky rose through the ranks in various roles, including circulation manager at Palomino, circulation and site manager at the Civic Center and, since 2014, branch manager at Appaloosa Library.