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Ken Remley: District 4 Newsletter — October 2022

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Join us for Surprise Fiesta Grande on October 8! This street festival celebrates our unique culture, traditions and community! It’s a family-friendly event on Saturday, October 8, from 5 - 9 p.m. in the Original Town Site on Hollyhock Street in the Grand Avenue corridor, and offers a fun evening of live music, food, dancing, vintage classic cars and so much more!

Surprise Fiesta Grande ad

Congressional Recognition for Spencer’s Place

On Monday, September 19, we joined founder Karin York as she received Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s office for Spencer’s Place. The coffee bistro provides adults with disabilities job training and direct skill development to earn a paycheck, build relationships, gain a sense of purpose and show the community the beauty of diversity and inclusion. Spencer’s Place is located at 15341 W. Waddell Rd. #B101. Congratulations!

Surprise City Council poses for a picture with Karin York inside Spencer's Place

Sunday in the Park

The City of Surprise presents Sunday in the Park events this fall! The next event in the series is happening on October 16 and will feature live music by SouthBound, various food trucks, an assortment of beers and wines, entertainment and more! Event admission is free; food and drink will be available for purchase. Don’t forget a blanket or lawn chair! Dogs must be leashed. 

Can’t make it to this one? Join us on November 6 for music by Blaine Long. All Sunday in the Park events will be held at Mark Coronado Park, 15850 N. Bullard Ave. from 3 - 7 p.m. For more information or to view the list of upcoming events, visit surpriseaz.gov/specialevents.

Sunday in the Park

Property maintenance assistance available

Surprise homeowners can apply now to receive assistance with a variety of property maintenance services including but not limited to landscaping, minor painting and trash removal.

Applicants must: 

  • Reside in the City of Surprise
  • Be the owner of the property or have received landlord permission
  • Reside in the property as their primary residence
  • Be present at the time services are being provided
  • Meet need guidelines

The Surprise Human Service and Community Vitality Surprise Day of Service is a one-time service. Projects will be taken on a first come, first served basis with priority given to projects that address health and safety issues. Service is not guaranteed for every applicant. It is dependent upon availability, level of need and funding.

Download the application at surpriseaz.gov/dayofservice or call 623.222.1522.

Day of Service volunteers needed

The Surprise Human Service and Community Vitality Department is looking for volunteers for our Day of Service event in October. Surprise Day of Service is an opportunity to give back to our community. From community cleanups to food bank events, join us and help make our city a better place!

Upcoming events:
Community Cleanup Event
Saturday, October 15: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
A day of neighborhood revitalization and cleanup! Activities may include minor painting improvements, landscaping, refuse removal and more. These services are offered to homeowners who may not be physically or financially able to maintain their homes as required by local codes.  

How to get involved: Individuals and groups can register with Larry Garcia at Larry.Garcia@surpriseaz.gov or 623.222.1522. Groups limited to no more than 10 people. Can’t make it this time? Keep an eye on Day of Service events at surpriseaz.gov/dayofservice.

Surprise accepting Veterans Day Parade entries

Be part of the 8th Annual City of Surprise Veterans Day Parade! The Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting parade entries from clubs, organizations, groups and residents who want to show their patriotic spirit and honor those who have bravely served our country. The parade will be held Friday, November 11, beginning at 10 a.m., and will run along Bullard Avenue between Paradise and Tierra Buena lanes.  

To register, head to surpriseaz.gov/surpriserec and click on ‘Special Events.’ Entries are due by Friday, October 28. There is no fee to participate. For more information or to register, please contact Daniel Luvisi at 623.222.2251 or daniel.luvisi@surpriseaz.gov.

A woman saluting

Fall tennis competition in full swing

Tennis season has officially arrived in Surprise as the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex prepares to welcome approximately 3,000 players, competing in several United States Tennis Association (USTA) League National Championships this fall.

USTA League National Championships

  • October 7 - 9  Division: Adult 18 & Over 4.5
  • October 14 - 16  Division: Adult 18 & Over 4.0
  • October 21 - 23  Division: Adult 40 & Over 3.0
  • October 28 - 30  Division: Mixed 18 & Over 6.0, 8.0 & 10.0
  • November 4 - 6   Division: Mixed 18 & Over 7.0/9.0
  • November 11 - 13  Division: Mixed 40 & Over 7.0/8.0

Events will take place at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex located at 14469 W. Paradise Ln. Fans can take advantage of free admission and enjoy all the tennis action! For a complete list of events and match schedules, please visit the USTA League National Championshipstournament page. 

Please note, open court availability may be limited or not available due to tournaments and other special events. For information on open court availability and tennis programs, please contact the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex at 623.222.2400.

Surprise forms Arts, Culture & Library Department

The City is launching a new department – the Arts, Culture & Library Department! This new department will bring a stronger focus to enriching the community through programs, services, experiences and events within these important areas. As part of this new focus, the City will begin managing its three public libraries on July 1, 2023; this includes Northwest Regional, Hollyhock and Asante. Currently, the management services are contracted through Maricopa County Library District.

Over the next nine months, the City will be diving into the details of its offerings and launching a new library website, with the goal of providing enhanced programs and features. More information on the City-led libraries and new Library Commission will be announced as details are finalized. To learn more about our libraries, visit surpriseaz.gov/library. To learn more about Arts & Culture, visit surpriseaz.gov/arts.

Arts, Culture and Library Department

Stay Connected

Want to get notifications about events, activities, City news and more? Don't miss out! Make sure you're signed up for City notifications! Head to surpriseaz.gov/subscribe now and pick which updates you want to receive via text or email. If you were previously subscribed and haven’t gotten a notification from us in a few months, double-check that you are still connected by logging into the site above. If you want the majority of our alerts, make sure to select ‘Surprise City News.’

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District 4 Community Meeting

Join me for my next monthly Community Meeting on Wednesday, October 26 at 6 p.m. at the Surprise Senior Center, located at 15832 N. Hollyhock St. Check the City website at surpriseaz.gov for updated information on my meet and greet schedule. Call or email me in the meantime with any questions or concerns you may have.

City Council Meetings

The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting is October 18 at 6 p.m. in the City of Surprise Council Chambers. City Council meetings are open to in-person attendance or you may tune in at surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page facebook.com/cityofsurprise or on Cox channel 11 to watch the meeting live.