Celebrate Your Achievements with Treats, Fun Activities It’s Gratitude Month, a great time to recognize all of you for your hard work, commitment to excellence, as well as your passion for serving residents and dedication to your fields of expertise in Glendale. Take time to reflect on the important work that you and your colleagues provide, including delivering emergency services, offering access to community resources and providing top-notch amenities. Many fun surprises await you this month. Some individual departmental leaders also plan to engage their employees in special activities to show their appreciation and to enhance our city’s strong culture of teamwork and camaraderie. Anyone may celebrate their co-workers through our city’s Gold Star Challenge Nov. 5 to 20. You may brighten someone’s day by recognizing how they support you at work or in life. Acknowledging others’ contributions is a wonderful way to build connections, confidence and trust. The goal of the challenge is to give a “Gold Star” or recognition for at least 11 days this month. You may register for the challenge on the Personify Health webpage.
City Manager Shares Plans to Gather More Employee Input Excitement is building as our city is giving employees even more opportunities to share their opinions and shape decision-making. Our City Manager Patrick Banger shared some highlights of the latest Employee Satisfaction Survey and plans for a new budget development process involving more collaboration from departmental leaders during his Pop in with Patrick live Teams chat on Oct. 29. Nicole Lance with Lance Strategies joined Patrick to reveal how our city will expand beyond its citywide employee survey focus group to explore new ideas, reimagine operations and transform employee feedback into meaningful action. An email about the focus groups has been sent to employees.
STORIES OF EXCELLING EMPLOYEES Diverse Success Factors Winners Shine at Awards Event We all strive to provide the best service to residents. Many employees who have consistently gone above and beyond, discovered an innovative solution, exhibited outstanding leadership or displayed excellence in any of our city’s Success Factors, were honored on Oct. 28. The 2026 Success Factors Excellence Award winners, runners-up and honorable mention recipients were recognized. The winners each received $1,500, while the runners-up obtained $200 each. The Success Factors are: Commitment to Service Excellence Innovation Leadership Effective Communication Teambuilding & Collaborative Relationships Organizational Awareness Personal Accountability & Integrity Continuous Learning and Development Any city staff members may nominate an employee or team for a Success Factor award. Learn more about these honors and other city awards on the Awards & Recognition webpage. To see a list of this year’s Success Factors winners, runners-up and honorable mention employees, visit Success Factors Excellence Awards video on Vimeo.
CARVING OUT TIME FOR SPOOKY FUN Employees Show Off Creative Costumes, Bond at GEEC Event City employees showed off creepy and funny costumes at the Glendale Employee Engagement Committee (GEEC)’s annual Halloween event that featured a costume contest at our E. Lowell Rogers Amphitheatre. Our City Manager Patrick Banger, Deputy City Manager Thomas Adkins and Economic Development Director Dan Henderson served as judges. Employees also chose their favorite pumpkin and individual costume.
Our Human Resources & Risk Management Department won the judges’ prize for best group costume for their reenactment of zombies and Michael Jackson in the late singer’s video, “Thriller.”
Connie Carmenbarrios in Budget & Finance, on the left, won the judges’ pick for the scariest individual costume for her portrayal of Annabelle, a movie series’ haunted doll. Jelisa Vinger, on the right, won the judges’ choice for the most original costume, for her get-up of “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.” Jelisa also won the fan favorite pumpkin prize.
Riley Hulsey in the Mayor & Council Office, won the fan favorite award for her costume as “Cuban Pete,” in the movie “The Mask.”
MAKING HOLIDAY MAGIC Employees Gearing up for Glendale Glitters’ Return to Park Our employees are busy gearing up for a beloved holiday tradition that will brighten our city. The 33rd annual Glendale Glitters will return to our newly renovated Murphy Park, with an official tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. Other Glendale Glitters kick-off events also will be held on Nov. 27 and 28. The lights will dazzle our community from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. This holiday lights display attracts thousands of people to the heart of Glendale. Local artisans, crafters and food vendors will sell unique items while the lights are displayed. Only approved vendors may set up booths or sell goods at Glendale Glitters. Learn more about this holiday festival, including requirements for potential vendors on the Glendale Glitters website.
Downtown Parade to Spread Cheer, Combat Food Insecurity Our Mayor Jerry P. Weiers is already getting into the holiday spirit as preparations are underway for the 13th Annual Hometown Christmas Parade at 11 a.m. on Dec. 12 in historic downtown. He recently announced that Tram Mai, an anchor with 12News in Phoenix, pictured to the left with Mayor Weiers, will serve as this year’s grand marshal. Mayor Weiers urges anyone to enter a float by decorating a vehicle or flatbed trailer, wearing festive costumes or creating a unique entry with wagons, golf carts or other vehicles. The deadline to register a parade entry is Dec. 4. Anyone may sign up or learn more about parade entries on the Hometown Christmas Parade entry webpage. This popular holiday tradition is possible due to a volunteer committee that represents non-profit and faith-based organizations, along with businesses and residents. Last year, parade organizers donated more than $60,000 and thousands of pounds of food were given to Glendale’s Hope for Hunger Food Bank. Anyone may bring non-perishable food to the parade or make an online donation on the Hometown Christmas Parade food drive webpage.
HEALTHY HABITS AND GIVING BACK Donate Blood to Help Patients in Need, Earn Points Every day patients in hospitals, surgery centers and emergency departments around the United States need 30,000 units of blood, according to Vitalant. Employees may help those in need during our City of Glendale Blood Drive on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center (FRAC). Anyone who donates blood will earn 2,000 points towards our Wellness Incentive. To register to donate blood, visit the Vitalant donors webpage or contact our Wellness Program Manager Ali WaelchliBrooks at AWaelchliBrooks@GLENDALEAZ.COM or 623-930-2467. If you register online, use sponsor code Glendale.
Sign Up for Health Screenings, Obtain Flu Shots There is still time to participate in the “Know Your Numbers” Health Screenings & Flu Shots to gain valuable insight. The free on-site health screenings will measure blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, height, weight and waist circumference. You will earn 10,000 wellness points towards the Good Life Wellness incentive for obtaining a screening. Appointments are required for the health screenings, but not for the flu shots. Schedule an appointment for a screening on the City of Glendale’s PickAtime scheduling webpage. These are the times for the screenings and flu shots: Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 7:30 to 11 a.m., Main Police Station, PD Classroom Thursday, Nov. 5, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Field Operations Department, Make Ready Shop
WAYS TO BOOST WELL-BEING Learn Prevention, Tools to Gain Support for Diabetes It’s National Diabetes Month, a chance to learn more about this health issue, including preventing it and obtaining support while living with it. Diabetes is one of the fastest growing public health issues in the United States with more than 40 million Americans living with the disease. Our city will host a Diabetes Month Event on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. Information tables will be set up and a light lunch provided from 1:15 to 2 p.m. Register for this class through NeoGov Learn in the Employee Portal.
City Provides Many Resources to Help Quit Smoking The Great American Smokeout is on Nov. 19, an annual event when smokers across the United States are urged to quit smoking in order to start building healthier lives and decreasing one’s risk of developing cancer. There are many City of Glendale tobacco cessation resources. A tobacco-free discount has been integrated into the WellStyles portal, giving employees a seamless, rewarding way to participate in the program and save up to $600 annually on their medical plans. Benefits-eligible employees may enroll in the Tobacco Cessation program through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona that includes oneon-one help from a coach and the Quitting Tobacco & Nicotine Program consisting of online video-based sessions. Learn about these programs and discover more support on the Tobacco Cessation webpage in the Employee Portal. Some other organizations that offer support for ending tobacco use include the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-55-66-222 and the American Lung Association.
COMING UP IN THE CITY Embark on Virtual Trip to Boost Fitness, Earn Points A philosopher said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Luckily our city offers great motivation to begin that path to wellness. Our city’s fall Move More Challenge is called a Postcard Perfect Trek. Employees may take a virtual trek across North America to view breathtaking natural scenery with stunning historic sites that would be ideal for any postcard. You may rally your team of five employees for this excursion, setting a goal for your group and maybe even planning your own postcard-worthy trek for a hike, gym meet-up or lunchtime walk. Meet the goal of taking 7,000 steps per day and you will earn 4,500 bonus points towards the annual incentive. The program is simple to follow! All you need to do is track minutes of activity or daily steps using a pedometer, fitness device or smartphone app. Registration is already underway and this incentive runs through Dec. 15. Sign up for the trek on the Personify Health/WellStyles webpage.
Plan Savings for Retirement with Expert’s Advice Trying to prepare for retirement but not sure where to start? There is still time to register for a one-on-one conversation with our Empower representative Abigail (Abbi) Brown about retirement planning on Dec. 16. Abbi will answer general questions about retirement savings, explain the benefits of your plan and review your retirement strategy. The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Conference Room 3b in City Hall. Click on our city’s Empower webpage to make an appointment with Abbi.
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY Employees Deliver Fun Fandom Event with Comic Books
The force was with our Velma Teague Library employees, who used their combined superpowers with other city staff members and Drawn to Comics store to produce Halloween ComicFest on Oct. 17 at the Civic Center and the store downtown. Six library employees, 15 library volunteers, two Parks and Recreation Department employees, as well as Civic Center workers worked faster than the speed of light to host this fun event that attracted a record-breaking 1,026 participants. Attendees enjoyed free comic books, as well as 55 artist and vendor booths, a live podcast, photo opportunities with local cosplay groups, along with spooky games and crafts for children, a video game tournament and live music.
FOCUS ON FITNESS AND FUN Dink, Dash and Dance: Our City’s Free Day of Play Grab your paddles, sneakers and sunscreen for a fun, free event our city is hosting in partnership with the non-profit organization Shape Up Us, as well as the Glendale Elementary School District and other community organizations. Event: The third annual Family Fun Community Event, which will feature a huge pickleball lesson, a 1K walk, 5K run, an obstacle course, rock climbing, hula hoop contests and a tug-of-war competition. A DJ will play tunes, health and wellness-oriented exhibitors will offer resources, participants can engage in sports activities and enjoy face-painting. When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Heroes Regional Park Cost: Free Learn more: City calendar webpage
On Par for Greatness and Good Times in Glendale Our Parks and Wreck team had an “un-fore-gettable” time winning the most recent City of Glendale Golf League. The winning foursome was Raymond Armas of the Fire Department, Clyde Brown, who is retired from the Parks & Recreation Department, Bob Juris, who is retired from the Development Services Department, and Mike Kingery, who works in the Internal Audit Program of our Organizational Performance Department. Bob, on the left, and Raymond are pictured in the photo to the left at the Falcon Dunes Golf Course. If golf is your cup of “tee,” stay tuned for details about the next season of the golf league in a future Inside Glendale newsletter. All current and retired city employees of any experience and skill levels are eligible to join in the fun.
ART AS APPRECIATION City Celebrates Mural Honoring Firefighters A colorful, new addition to Fire Station 153 is generating renewed support for our employees who put their lives on the line and make sacrifices every day at work. Our city recently celebrated the unveiling of a mural, “The Legends,” which honors the rich history, proud tradition and future of firefighting. Our Vice Mayor Ray Malnar, Fire Chief Ryan Freeburg, Fire Captain John Chester, who is also the public information officer for the Fire Department, our Arts & Culture Administrator Chris Taylor and the artist who created the piece, Krista Hill, spoke about the significance of this public art. Several TV stations and a newspaper covered the unveiling, as did our Communications Department’s videographers. Click the logos below to see the media coverage.
EMPLOYEES ENRICHING LIVES Dance Performance Dazzles Crowd at Sahuaro Ranch Park Our Office of Arts & Culture with support from our Vice Mayor Ray Malnar helped present a special performance at Sahuaro Ranch Park last month. More than 1,000 people attended “Ballet Under the Stars,” where Ballet Arizona delivered classical and contemporary pieces. Audience members relaxed on lawn chairs and blankets, enjoyed live music, played outdoor games, ate food that vendors sold and checked out community booths. These performances are part of our city’s commitment to boosting arts and cultural opportunities for residents. Learn more about the programs on the Office of Arts & Culture’s webpage.
Making Memories and Creative Canvases at Outdoor Event Our Office of Arts & Culture helped residents get their creative juices flowing at a unique event where participants also enjoyed drinks and live music. Masterpieces & Margaritas drew nearly 1,000 people to Murphy Park and E. Lowell Rogers Amphitheatre recently. Participants painted their own creations with guidance from professional artists and had a chance to sip margaritas and beer, as well as buy food from vendors. Live music was performed in the amphitheater. Check out this Vimeo video revealing Masterpieces & Margaritas highlights that our videographer Shaun Mockoski produced. Our Economic Development Department, with support from our Parks & Recreation, Field Operations, Development Services, Police, Fire and Budget & Finance departments, made this event possible. Learn more about cultural events and programs in the city on the Office of Arts & Culture webpage.
CITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT LIBRARY MANAGER FUNFall FALL EVENTS ONNews TV NEWS Library Manager SHARES Shares Fun Events on TV The entertaining, educational, diverse free programs that our libraries offer were featured again during a live segment on Fox 10 recently. Our Foothills Library Branch Manager Erin Garred shared her enthusiasm for events and programs at that location in October, as well as the Halloween ComicFest that our Velma Teague Library hosted in partnership with Drawn to Comics store at the Civic Center and downtown comic book store.
Watch Foothills Library Branch Manager Erin Garred’s live interview in the Fox 10 studio in Phoenix.
Some other events Erin provided information about were the Emily Dickinson Poetry Party, Spotlight Youth Theatre Presents: “She Persisted, The Musical JR,” the Boo Bash! Halloween party and a visit from author and paranormal researcher Jethro Blanch talking about his book, “Haunted Arizona Deadly Graveyards.”
Writing Program Earns Media Coverage Our city’s Writer in Residence program has gained media attention again, thanks to Lauren Kalt, a librarian at our Foothills Library. Lauren, who is pictured to the left, organizes the program. She praised poetry and poetic prose writer Patti Blanco, who is providing workshops and one-on-one consultations to people of any skill levels and genres at our city’s different library branches through Dec. 20. Patti has a master’s degree in fine arts in creative writing from the University of Arizona, and she has taught writing and literature for several years. Check out an article on the program on the Glendale Independent webpage and view the schedule of workshops and one-on-one consultations on the library’s webpage.
FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Patriotic Display Prompts Donation for Historical Books Our Main Library’s innovative use of a traveling museum to educate the community about American history has earned it a donation that will provide even more ways to explore our country’s origins. The non-profit organization Daughters of the American Revolution, Anasazi Chapter, donated $915 to the library to purchase new books. These books on the American Revolution will be suitable for all ages. The non-profit organization also is going to sponsor a Tea Party program in January that will feature Revolutionary War period historical facts. Our Main Library was selected for this donation because of the great work its employees completed when the Arizona America250 Commission chose it to host the Road to 250: Arizona Traveling Museum presented by Banner Health. This was the only library in the West Valley picked to host this mobile, historical piece. Our library employees, with support from other departments, hosted the public in February at the mobile exhibition, which was a custom-retrofitted trailer that revealed Arizona’s history through immersive panels, a video looping experience and interactive activations. Employees also provided lawn games, crafts activities, a scavenger hunt and music. Arizona America250 Commission is a non-partisan effort to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary by honoring Arizona’s role in American history. Learn more about ways our state is marking this occasion on the America250 Commission website.
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Ariel Bonell - Fire Adam Britt - Engineering Ashley Evans - Police
Oscar Garcia - Innovation & Technology Ryan Hill - Police Betsy Morales - Police Matthew Passovoy - Police Mario Rodriguez Nava - Transportation Stacy Spaulding - Human Resources & Risk Management Kendall Vaughan - Police James White Jr. - Transportation Patrick Wilkinson - Water Services Ashley Williams - Police
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated! HAPPY 35 YEARS Todd Hellman - Water Services HAPPY 30 YEARS Katherine Mitchell - Engineering HAPPY 25 YEARS David Cano - Police Brian Piech - Police Jude Soine - Police
HAPPY 20 YEARS Paul Earls - Water Services Rodrigo Veneracion - Police HAPPY 15 YEARS Michael Farrell - Field Operations HAPPY 10 YEARS Timothy Benson - Fire Nicholas Haney - Fire Michael Harris - Fire Timothy Lowery - Police Valerie Marin - Police Stephen Orsini - Fire Steven Pena - Transportation Justin Smith - Fire HAPPY 5 YEARS Eric Amavisca - Parks & Recreation Juan Garcia - Parks & Recreation Keith Kornegay - City Manager’s Office Susana Marquez - Budget & Finance Latoya Mitchell - Budget & Finance Gregorio Pat - Field Operations Pinky Tantillo - Parks & Recreation