As city employees, your hard work, talent and heart for service make a real difference in residents' lives. Every day, community members express appreciation for how city employees have helped them.
Resident Bryan Peters recently emailed the Police Department's Public Information Office with a powerful message of gratitude. He said that he had hit rock bottom and lost his relationship with his children due to drug addiction. But every time our police officers interacted with him, they showed him respect and compassion.
Peters credits our officers for helping him achieve sobriety, rebuild his relationship with his children, and land a job at a sobriety facility. Watch heartfelt stor d shaking hand )
There is a proverb that says, "Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.” That expression is something our Water Conservation Specialist Emily Owen, pictured to the right, has demonstrated since she joined the city’s Water Services Department about four months ago.
Emily made a big splash by helping Roben and Dan Sabad secure hundreds of dollars in water-conservation rebates. Emily guided them through the process of removing their pool and installing xeriscape landscaping with artificial grass, gravel, and native plants. Roben emailed Emily, thanking her the hands-on support and the Development Services Department for facilitating their pool demolition permit. Learn more about these rebates here.
Making a Difference continues on the next page
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Community Services Department’s Success Coaches Renee Candalaria and Alma Corrales, pictured below, are true champions for the individuals and residents they support. Using their dedication, expertise and advocacy, they empower clients to pursue meaningful goals, including eliminating debt, buying a home and building long-term financial stability. Recently, Alma and Renee provided case management, as well as budgeting and savings strategies and a connection to down payment aid to help the Morgan family purchase its first home.
The Morgan family, pictured below, was overjoyed to achieve a major milestone in buying their first house.
Congratulations to the Morgan family and thank you to Alma and Renee for helping these residents turn a dream into a reality!
Renee Candalaria and Alma Corrales
BUILDING BRIDGES
GET TO KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER, ASK QUESTIONS
Our new City Manager Patrick Banger is launching something new. Join him for the Pop In with Patrick, 30-minute virtual get-together at 10 a.m. on Feb. 26.
He will share some information he has been contemplating and there will be time to ask questions.
An email with a link to the event will be coming to you soon!
HR GETS TO HEART OF FUN
Our Human Resources and Risk Management Department showed its passion for fun during a meeting earlier this month Photos of the department’s employees when they were children were hung on paper hearts on a wall. Their colleagues had to identify who was in the photos. Our Human Resources Technician Olivia Odom figured out 16 employees’ identities.
SENIOR PROM DRAWS SMILES
Our Parks and Recreation Department employees treated older residents in the community to a special, red-carpetstyle Senior Prom on Feb. 13, ahead of Valentine’s Day. Residents danced the day away at this fun gathering. Check out the video our videographer Shaun Mockoski produced to the left with highlights from this great party.
COMMUNITY + CONNECTION
VICE-MAYOR’S GRANADA ESTATES CLEAN-UP WAS A TEAM EFFORT
The Granada Estates Serve Day on Feb. 7, led by Vice Mayor Ray Malnar and supported by Police, Code Compliance and Community Services, brought 10 Sahuaro District homes into compliance while enhancing the neighborhood’s appearance 73 volunteers provided landscaping clean-up, spread free front-yard rock and applied fresh curbside paint. The effort was captured on video by Communications Department videographers Mike Harris and Alfredo Kaspar.
CONNECT WITH COLLEAGUES
As a reminder, there are several city committees you may join to meet new colleagues, give back to the community and get involved in unique projects.
Our city has various committees for employees to contribute to the city in meaningful ways. To request more information and express interest in any of the committees, click here.
SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS CONNECT WITH COUNTERPARTS
Several city employees who support our Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Manager’s Office gather regularly with counterparts from other governmental entities to connect, strategize, and collaborate. They recently attended the Arizona Support Associates for Government Electeds/Executives (SAGE) winter quarterly meeting in Buckeye.
Our city group that attended includes:
Isela Rivas, Mayor and Council Office
Jenny Brown, Mayor and Council Office
Cheryl Kulas, Mayor and Council Office
Riley Hulsey, Mayor and Council Office
Deanne Torres, City Manager’s Office
Terri King, Mayor and Council Office
Anne Thomson, Mayor and Council Office
Derek Diesner, Mayor and Council Office
GREATNESS IN GLENDALE
MAIN LIBRARY SELECTED TO HOST TRAVELING MUSEUM
Library Services employees are gearing up for an exciting mobile exhibition that will bring engaging, historical lessons about Arizona and the United States to Glendale.
Our Main Library has been selected to host the Road to 250: Arizona Traveling Museum from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 20. There will be games, crafts, a scavenger hunt and music at the library for this FREE event. Renderings of what this novel museum will look like are shown to the left. Banner Health is the presenting sponsor of this traveling museum, which will tour all 15 counties of the state. Glendale is honored to be the only West Valley city on the trek.
The museum that is housed in a customretrofitted trailer celebrates national and Arizona history and recognizes the people, cultures and communities that shaped Arizona. City employees and everyone in the public is invited to step inside this mobile museum that features a replica of the Liberty Bell, along with immersive panels, a short looping video experience and interactive activations for people of all ages.
Road to 250: Arizona Traveling Museum will make dozens of stops around the state, partnering with local libraries, communities and civic organizations. The Arizona America250 Commission is a non-partisan effort to commemorate our country’s 250 anniversary by honoring Arizona’s role in American history. th
GOOD NEWS IN GLENDALE
STUDENTS THRIVE IN ALIVE AT 25 SAFE DRIVING PROGRAM
There is exciting news about our city’s work steering safety among young drivers in the Alive at 25 defensive driving course. This class is in its fourth year at Ironwood High School, where our Transportation Traffic Education team originally piloted the program.
Another Alive at 25 class concluded on Feb. 6, with all 32 students attending every day of the weeklong course. Students’ commitment to gaining essential skills to help them take responsibility behind the wheel and contribute to safer roads was remarkable. Our Traffic Education Program Manager Cassandra Johnston, pictured with students in the photo above left, teaches the class with assistance from our Transportation Education Specialist Tom Holzschuh III. Alive at 25 is a National Safety Council course that is recognized in all 50 states. Students learn about the negative effects and dangers associated with speeding, distractions, peer pressure and driver inexperience
Learn more about Alive at 25 by clicking here.
DIRTBIKES SOAR AT STATE FARM STADIUM
High-flying dirtbikes generated excitement when the world’s best two-wheel racers converged at State Farm Stadium for the annual Monster Energy AMA Supercross race on Feb. 7 as part of the SuperMotocross World Championship series.
Our videographers Mike Harris and Alfredo Kaspar were there to capture the fun in a video. Mike interviewed two racers, Cooper Webb and Carson Millikan. Check out the video to the left.
ENGAGING EVENTS FOR EMPLOYEES
BATTER UP TO LIBRARIES, EARN PRIZES FOR READING
You may hit a “homerun” when you participate in the Camelback Ranch-Glendale Spring Training Reading Challenge running through Feb. 22.
Our Public Library has once again teamed up with Camelback Ranch-Glendale Stadium to provide chances to win free tickets to a Los Angeles Dodgers or a Chicago White Sox Spring Training baseball game. To participate, you just need to read or listen to any book you choose, then visit any of our city’s library branches through Feb. 22 to complete an entry for weekly game ticket drawings. You also may attend a library program or event in order to earn a weekly drawing entry. Anyone in the public is also welcome to participate in the challenge.
Winning entries will be drawn again today and Feb. 23. All participants are also eligible to win a drawing for a grand prize bundle that includes four dugout box tickets to the season finale on March 22. The grand prize winner will be drawn on Feb. 27.
The deadline is fast approaching to log exercise hours engaged in virtual winter sports as Team Glendale aims to win the 8 Annual Move It Maricopa City vs. City Challenge! th
As a reminder, our city is competing against the cities of Buckeye, Chandler, Goodyear and Surprise, along with the Tempe Elementary School District and Gila River Casino as part of this challenge that runs through Feb. 22. Help us win the Golden Shoe Trophy back from Chandler! The team that logs the highest group average number of steps taken will win the competition. “Winter Sports Around the World” is the theme.
Register for the challenge here.
HONING IN ON GOOD HEALTH
LEARN BLOOD PRESSURE TOOLS
There is an easy way to learn lifestyle strategies to support your heart health.
Register for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Webinar: Take It to Heart: Managing Your Blood Pressure that will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25. Participants will learn ways to manage their blood pressure, which if too high can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and other serious health issues. Register for the webinar here.
GRAB SNEAKERS FOR WALK/RUN
TThe WellStyles Move More 5K and 1-mile walk/run and Wellness Fair returns Feb. 28 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center. Participants can choose a 5K (3.1 miles) or 1-mile route, then enjoy a free Community Wellness Fair, healthy giveaways and a complimentary indoor rockclimbing wall (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
Registration is $15 for adults. Children 12 and under are free. The annual event is presented by WellStyles and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Would you like to work behind the scenes? Volunteers are needed to help keep things running smoothly at the event If you would like to volunteer or just register to participate in the walk/run, click here.
CONNECTING IN THE COMMUNITY
DIVE INTO POOL WORK
Know someone looking for a summer job in Glendale? The Parks and Recreation Department is hiring certified lifeguards ($25/hour) and swim instructors ($26/hour) for the 2026 season. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
Certification classes are available locally, and positions are based at Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center and Rose Lane Aquatics Center. Applicants can learn more about certification and apply online.
ENJOY FOLK MUSIC IN PARK
You may unwind and soak up the sounds of great folk music in our beautiful Sahuaro Ranch Park later this month. The Glendale Folk & Heritage Festival will entertain audiences there from 10 a m to 5 p m on Feb. 28 and March 1.
This FREE event celebrates folk music, its history and culture. It will feature live performances and workshops, as well as food and craft vendors, a plein air painting competition and activities for children. Expect hundreds of performers sharing their talents.
To learn more about this festival, click here.
MORE WAYS TO ENGAGE IN GLENDALE GROWING IN GLENDALE
MANUFACTURER TO BRING JOBS, PARTNERSHIP TO CITY
After a long search for the right spot in the West Valley, family-owned water and wastewater treatment chemical manufacturer Pencco, Inc. has found its home in Glendale.
It recently opened its new Arizona manufacturing facility at 5090 W. Camelback Road, where it will manufacture specialty chemicals that municipal, mining and industrial customers use to treat drinking water and wastewater. Our Mayor Jerry Weiers, Vice Mayor Ray Malnar and Councilmember Lupe Conchas attended the ribbon-cutting event. Pencco is a “valuable addition to our city’s growing portfolio of manufacturing and industrial partners,” Mayor Weiers said. The company’s move here will bring jobs to our community and a unique opportunity to collaborate with our Water Services Department, he added. Check out the media coverage of the ribbon-cutting in the links to the left below the photo.
It is Black History Month, an annual celebration of African Americans’ achievements and a time to recognize their key role in U.S. history.
Our Inclusion Network invites you to learn about the history of African Americans in Arizona through a comprehensive presentation found in the Employee Portal here. You may learn about the first African American family to arrive in Mesa in 1905, the schools and subdivisions that welcomed Black Arizona residents and stories of 19 documented original Tuskegee Airmen who had ties to bases in Arizona after World War II, among many other historical people and events. The webpage also lists cultural events going on in the Valley this month.
