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 Surprise Fiesta Grande 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 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 Xeriscape Demonstration Garden ribbon cutting The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden had its official ribbon cutting on Saturday, September 17! We had a great time learning about desert landscapes and meeting some amazing residents. The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden is located on the north side of the Surprise City Hall Campus, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., and is available for public viewing from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Plan your visit to the garden! Mayor Hall and Council cut a ribbon at the Xeriscape Garden 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 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 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. 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.’ Subscribe to news and updates Meet and Greet My next meeting will be on November 5 at 9 a.m. at Spencer’s Place, 15341 W. Waddell Rd. Please check surpriseaz.gov for updates to my Meet and Greet schedule. As always, feel free to email me at patrick.duffy@surpriseaz.gov 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. Please tune in on surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise or on Cox channel 11. Please continue to check the City of Surprise website, at surpriseaz.gov for updates to meeting schedules and other important announcements.