Inside Glendale - Mid-June 2026

CELEBRATE USA’S BIRTHDAY WITH LIVE MUSIC, ICE CREAM The America 250 Celebration is just days away. Join the community in Murphy Park from 4 to 9:30 p.m. on June 20.

Our Parks and Recreation Department’s Special Events Division has planned an “America the Beautiful” art exhibition, plus live music from the Glendale Summer Band and Don’t Stop Believin: a Tribute to Journey band. Cool off with a treat from the ice cream social and check out various food trucks. Aliyana Johnson of Sahuaro Ranch Elementary School, the city-wide winner of the Office of Arts & Culture’s America250 Essay Contest, will read her winning piece. Other highlights of the event include: A kids’ foam zone and bubble play area Face painting and other family activities A patriotic drone show

Ask Glendale is a new initiative launching at the America 250 Celebration that gives residents a direct line to city information.

City employees will staff a booth at community events to answer questions, help navigate services like GlendaleOne. and share resources.

Employees in any department may volunteer to work at an Ask Glendale booth after they complete training. The core team for Ask Glendale is looking for employees to volunteer to work at an event in October.

To volunteer, visit this sign-up form. If you have any questions, contact Greg Kinder at GKinder@glendaleaz.com or Ashley Christman at AChristman@glendaleaz.com

ENRICHMENT FOR EMPLOYEES EXPLORE CREATIVITY IN ARTS CLASSES Have a ball creating a bowl or other fun objects in beginner art exploration classes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on June 26 at Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC).

Our Economic Development Department’s Office of Arts and Culture will host ceramics classes in the Bobcat room, where employees may create unique artwork using air-dry clay. The Office will also offer shrink plastic classes in the Raven/Gecko rooms, where participants can create handcrafted treasures, including ornaments and necklaces.

Feel free to bring family members with you to enjoy these creative outings. Register by June 19 on our Office of Arts and Culture webpage.

If you have any questions, contact Chris Taylor at Ctaylor1@glendaleaz.com.

STEP UP FITNESS TO EARN PERKS There is still time to earn points to quality for the Good Life Club (Level 5) or earn $100 in Rewards Cash (Level 4) through the WellStyles portal.

The deadline to earn points for regular employees is TODAY. Any new employees who joined the city in May and June have until June 30 to earn their points. Earning points allows you to obtain incentives and savings on the city’s health insurance plan.

Points will be reset to zero on July 1 for everyone. If you have questions, please contact Wellness@glendaleaz.com.

Learn more on our city’s Wellness Incentive page.

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GROWTH IN GLENDALE TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH It’s Men’s Health Month, and our city is providing great, helpful ways to help men take action to boost their physical and mental health.

Show your support for this annual, global effort to support men by wearing blue on June 18 or 19 and sending a “Healthy Selfie” or “Wear Blue” photo

by June 22 to contest@cogaz.onmicrosoft.com to enter a drawing for a chance to win a Good Life prize. Then, you may participate in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ webinar on men’s health from noon to 1 p.m. on June 24.

Participants will discuss the most common health risks men face and how early detection is critical to living longer, healthier lives. Click this Blue Cross Blue Shield webinar webpage to register.

LEARN ABOUT RETIREMENT PLAN IN WEBINAR It is never too soon to start planning for retirement, and our city is offering another way to gain important information about this stage of life. The “Got a Raise? Your Retirement Deserves One Too!” webinar on our city’s 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan will be held through NEOGOV from noon to 1 p.m. on June 25. This type of plan is a tax-advantaged retirement savings account that lets people save money from their paychecks for retirement.

You may choose traditional pre-tax contributions, which reduce your current taxable income, or Roth contributions, which are made after taxes and may be withdrawn tax-free in retirement if IRS requirements are met. Register for the webinar in NEOGOV.

FROM VISION TO REALITY: CITY HALL’S TRANSFORMATION Many employees are moved into the new City Hall complex, marking the completion of a years-long effort to create a modern, downtown campus.

Our city’s original City Hall opened in 1910 and today’s beautiful, vibrant downtown campus just north of Glendale Avenue between 58th and 59th avenues, reunites employees who had been temporarily dispersed across different city buildings during construction. Employees had moved out of the old City Hall in 2022 to allow for the enhancements.

Check out the video to the left from our videographer Mike Harris showing this amazing transformation.

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WAYS TO GIVE BACK PLAYBINGO BINGOWITH WITHPOLICE, POLICE,HELP HELPNON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT PLAY Our Police Department invites all employees and the public to try their luck at winning prizes at a bingo event for a great cause from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 15 at The Haven Church at 5902 W. Cactus Road.

This gathering will raise money for Special Olympics Arizona, an organization our Police Department has supported for a long time. Just pay $10 to get in the door and you will receive four bingo cards. Prizes will be given to each round’s winners, including a Mountainside Fitness membership paired with exercise equipment. Attendees also may enter the raffle contest for a chance to win Pink Jeep Tours and Arizona Safari Jeep Tours adventures in Sedona, a round of golf at McDowell Mountain Golf Club and a hot-air balloon ride from Rainbow Ryders.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY

Anyone who would like to attend the bingo event should RSVP to Crime Prevention Specialist Barbara Garcia at 623-930-2571. Barbara and Crime Prevention Specialist Christina Penrose are organizing this bingo fundraiser. Learn more about this event on the city’s calendar webpage.

DONATE BLOOD, ENTER CAR RAFFLE Summer puts a major strain on blood supply, and Arizona needs 600 donors a day to keep up with regular hospitals’ demands.

Anyone who is eligible may take an hour at one of these city blood drives to help save lives. Here are the dates of the bloodmobile visits: July 16 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Main Library (Use sponsor code: Glendale) July 17 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Foothills Library (Use sponsor code: 3185293) July 30 – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Velma Teague Library drive hosted at City Hall, in the Training Room at 5850 W. Glendale Ave. (Use sponsor code: Glendale) July 31 - Heroes Regional Park Library - 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(Use sponsor code 3185291) Anyone who donates blood this summer will be entered into a raffle to try to win a car. Visit donors.vitalant.org to schedule a time to donate.

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GREAT RESOURCES IN GLENDALE STAY ALERT DURING MONSOON SEASON Monsoon season is here and our Emergency Management Department is providing valuable tips for employees and everyone in the state to stay safe.

Running through September 30, monsoon season brings thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain, powerful winds and lightning, which can threaten lives and properties.

Our Emergency Management Department has shared the following tools and information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS): Learn the basics: Watch this NOAA and NWS video for an overview of monsoons and this season's forecast.

Check local forecasts: Visit weather.gov/phoenix for the latest weather updates in the Valley.

Stay informed: The Arizona Emergency Information Network offers emergency updates, hazard information, and severe weather preparedness guidance.

Learn more about how our Emergency Management Department may help you stay safe during monsoon season, when power outages occur, when extreme heat sweeps the area and in other potentially dangerous situations on the department’s webpage.

Here are some tips to try to stay safe during extreme weather conditions: Keep your eyes on the sky. Some signs of a storm on its way are when the sky gets darker, you see flashes of light and notice increasing wind. If you hear thunder, it’s best to go to a safe area.

If it has been raining hard for several hours, there could be a flood. Try to avoid driving during a storm.

Thunder means a storm is nearby. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be hit by lightning. Go to a safe shelter immediately.

Watch your weather forecasts. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or local news for the latest weather forecasts.

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BUILDING CONNECTIONS INCLUSION NETWORK JUNETEENTH EVENT DRAWS BIG CROWD City employees packed the Main Library auditorium to hear guest speaker Dr. Matthew Whitaker, an award-winning consultant, educator and author, share insight about the history of Juneteenth at an Inclusion Network event.

Dr. Whitaker is the founder and CEO of Diamond Strategies, LLC, an award-winning, certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), which specializes in organizational audits, strategic planning, leadership coaching and Interest-BasedResolution (IBR). He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, non-profits and educational institutions, and also is executive director of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Phoenix. To learn more about Juneteenth, visit this website.

FOOTHILLS LIBRARIAN HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSE EVENTS Foothills Library librarian Lauren Kalt helped spread positive publicity about the diverse, fun and educational events that branch is offering this summer on a live interview with Fox 10 on June 7.

Lauren talked about how Foothills Library provides many, free events for people of all ages.

She shared details about the Bollywood Dance Workshop that was held there on June 11, along with Writer in Residence Amy K. Nichols delivering one-on-one consultations and teaching a workshop, as well as a Didgeridoo World Concert coming up June 22, among other activities. Check out her interview by clicking the photo on the left.

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