BASEBALL FEVER STRIKES, CITY HITS HOME RUN WITH PUBLICITY
Our city employees have proven they can hit a grand slam when it comes to promoting the fun Cactus League Spring Training games at Camelback Ranch.
These popular games, that draw baseball fans from around the world to Glendale, have been brewing lots of positive international media attention, and putting our city on the map once again as a hotspot for entertainment.
City Manager Kevin Phelps, pictured on the left, scored home runs with his interviews with Hodo Station of TV Asahi, a major broadcaster based in Tokyo, and on 3-TV / CBS-5, talking about how spring training is a huge win for the city economically.
Hodo Station, the flagship news program on TV Asahi, has a viewership of more than 20 million households per broadcast, Japan’s highest primetime news show rating. Our Video Team captured the station’s main sports anchor Ayumi Hirodo interviewing Phelps and talking about the flood of Japanese media covering spring training here
Want to find out more about the impact you are making?
Check out the following:
City Manager’s Update
Glendale at a Glance
Check out the stories about the excitement of the spring training games at Camelback Ranch, including the fever pitch surrounding the World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, pictured at top left, who hails from Japan. Great job to all city employees who have helped publicize baseball fever and accommodated visitors enjoying this time-honored tradition in Glendale!
NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
GRAB SOME POPCORN AND GET READY FOR BINGE WATCHING
Looking for a good T.V. show or movie to watch? Check out these binge-worthy recommendations from city leaders!
DIVE INTO JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Do you know someone who is looking for a job as the weather heats up?
Our city is still looking for lifeguards to fill positions at our pools for the coming season! Hiring day is March 29 and eligible lifeguards MUST be certified through the American Red Cross or StarGuard. Glendale is offering three lifeguard certifications teaching Red Cross Standard, which our city prefers candidates have when being considered for these positions To find the class times and locations visit this link.
Swim instructor jobs are still available but there are no swim instructor classes being provided now in the city.
AQUATICS JOBS
Our city is committed to helping boost blood supply in order to help save lives. Anyone who is eligible to give is encouraged to sign up for a Vitalant blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bloodmobile at Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC), 5600 W. Union Hills Drive.
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, according to Vitalant. After the donations are taken, tested, processed and stored, they are distributed to patients who need it in the hospitals Vitalant serves.
To register for the drive, visit the link below and use sponsor code of Glendale. Have questions? Click the link or contact Ali Waelchli-Brooks, our Wellness Program Manager, at extension 2467.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Don’t forget our United Way campaign that will wrap up on March 7.
With your support, we will assist the community in many ways, including feeding those facing food insecurity, housing those experiencing homelessness helping students stay in school, linking individuals to mental health services, supporting homelessness prevention and providing needed resources to people seeking better job opportunities
Every dollar donated to this campaign has the power to create “Mighty Change.” You can sign up and donate by payroll deduction or credit card by registering directly at the link below. If you have any questions, contact Erik Elias at eelias@glendaleaz.com.
UNITED WAY
RESILIENCY, LEARN TO THRIVE UNDER STRESS
Resilience is important because it helps us overcome challenges and bounce back from adversity in life. In this NEOGOV class, Resilience and Thriving: The Secret Power of Stress starting from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wellness Program Manager Ali Waelchli-Brooks will help attendees learn how to identify stress triggers and choose coping strategies to help build their innate coping power.
This interactive session will be held in-person at our Adult Center in Room 104. The class is limited to 20 participants.
Register in NEOGOV Learn via the link below or visit the GRID Calendar for steps to register.
RESILIENCE
SHARE SPECIAL PHOTOS FOR CHANCE TO SHINE IN BENEFITS GUIDE
Don’t miss your chance to be featured in the 2025/2025 Benefits Enrollment Guide! Our Benefits Team wants to use your experiences to showcase how working for the city has enhanced your life.
The team would love city employees to send photos of their weddings, time playing with newborn babies and other family milestones, as well as working out at the gym or doing other exercises and getting braces and/or using city benefits in other ways. Or send ANY photos of any other special life moments.
The photos that best represent our benefits and wellness offerings will be chosen. By submitting pictures, you agree to allow your photos to be used in the Benefits Enrollment Guide.
Please send the photos with a description, including your name and department, by March 14 to contest@cogaz.onmicrosoft.com
WAYS TO GROW IN GLENDALE
REFLECT ON WORK OF CESAR CHAVEZ AT INCLUSION NETWORK EVENT
Join your colleagues for a meaningful reflection on the life, work, and enduring impact of Cesar Chavez, a champion of social justice, labor rights, and equality
The Cesar Chavez Inclusion Network Event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium. This event will celebrate Chavez’s contributions to the fight for dignity and respect for farmworkers, as well as his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of marginalized communities.
The guest speaker will be Pete R. Dimas, Ph.D., a U.S. Navy veteran with a Ph.D. in Latin American History (with emphasis on former Mexican territory within the U.S.), as well as Social Work Theory, from Arizona State University. Dr. Dimas has an impressive resume that includes work as a Professor of History and Chicana/o Studies and Director of Southwest Studies at Phoenix College
Lunch will be served after the event. Register via NEOGOV-LEARN at the link below.
CESAR CHAVEZ
GET ON TRACK WITH HEALTH FOR CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES
Don’t forget to complete your online Health Assessment for a chance to win prizes every quarter! If you earn 5,000 WellStyles points by March 31, you will be eligible for the next prize drawing, which will be a $75 gift card. The city will provide 20 gift cards to employees during that prize period.
As a reminder, there are many ways you can boost your health and earn WellStyles points, including walking, engaging in small bursts of energy every day, taking a class on digestive health, participating in a “Journey” to gain tips on caring for aging parents and going to a doctor’s appointment. To qualify for the annual incentive, you must earn 25,000 points by June 15.
You can register and track your points for a chance to win prizes at the link below.
WELLSTYLES
NUTRITION MONTH TIME TO HONE HEALTHY EATING HABITS
It’s National Nutrition Month and everyone is encouraged to learn how to make informed food choices and develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been producing this annual campaign since 1973. This year’s theme is “Food Connects Us.”
You can learn nutrition tips, including what information to look for on nutrition labels and how to handle food cravings, by visiting the Good Life Wellness area of the GRID in the link below.
APRIL 6
MORE GREAT EVENTS IN GLENDALE
Valley Bike Month is next month and our Family Bike Ride is right around the corner!
Our bike ride will roll through Glendale at 8 a.m. at Sahuaro Ranch Park (59th Avenue and Mountain View Road). On-site registration for this FREE ride for all ages and skill levels starts at 7 a.m. Choose from one of three leisurely ride routes (7, 15 and 23 miles long) featuring bike lanes and pathways. There will be bike check-up stations, along with health and wellness booths, food and coffee trucks, music, games and activities for kids. Have questions? Call 623-930-2940 or email transportationinfo@glendaleaz.com
Register TODAY for this fun event!
FAMILY BIKE RIDE
SHOW LIBRARY LOVE WITH FUN FASHION DURING SPECIAL WEEK
APRIL 7-11
Want to support for our libraries while expressing yourself in a fun way next month? You’re in luck as National Library Week 2025 is almost here!
Throughout the week, our libraries are encouraging employees and residents to show their library love with their wardrobe attire.
• April 7: Cozy Cardigan Day: Wrap up in your favorite sweater!
• April 8: Dress Like a Librarian Day: Find some super stylish threads to wear and bask in compliments!
• April 9: Wacky Sock Day: Librarians love a good pair of novelty socks! Show us your wackiest pair.
• April 10: Book T-Shirt Day: Wear your book-themed swag!
• April 11: Orange You Glad for Glendale Libraries!?! Wear orange to show your library love!
COMMUNITY SERVICES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AT RESOURCE FAIR
Our Community Services Department is busy gearing up for the 11th Annual Family Resource Fair that will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the GESD System of Care Center at 7677 W. Bethany Home Road. This event provides information and services about employment readiness services and health resources for families, as well as offers free children’s activities and giveaways.
Learn more about this great event at the link below.
MORE GREAT NEWS AROUND GLENDALE
CITY TEAMS FACILITATE HOME REPAIRS FOR LONGTIME RESIDENT
A Glendale woman is grateful and excited to be back living in her home after many city employees worked together to ensure repairs were made so she could safely reside in her house.
Our Building Safety Team had deemed Linda Kennemer’s house Unsafe to Occupy because of several unsafe conditions in the structure, including an illegal, unpermitted room addition, as well as a blocked egress, fire hazards, major damage and dilapidation. Our Abatement Program Manager Scott Baxa with Building Safety in Development Services contacted our city’s Community Revitalization Division to see if that team could help Kennemer through the city’s home rehabilitation program. Our Revitalization and Building Safety teams worked together to develop a scope of work in order to allow for needed repairs so she could move back into her home. Our city utilized licensed contractor Sun Valley Remodeling to do the construction work. Monica Schroeder and Darrell Gibson Jr., Revitalization Coordinators in our Community Services Department, managed the project for the city. Some of the work included removing severely damaged skylights and fixing damaged trusses, along with replacing sewer and water lines, replacing all windows and removing unsafe flooring.
BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
SAFE DRIVING PROGRAM FOR TEENS MARKS ANNIVERSARY
Did you know that our city’s “Alive at 25” program is 3 years old?!
This important program aimed at reducing distracted and impaired driving among young drivers has generated much positive media attention since it kicked off in 2022. It’s our city’s way of taking a proactive approach to helping keep young drivers safe and provides practical tips for teens on how to avoid common distractions, including texting while driving.
“Alive at 25" is offered FREE of charge to students enrolled in Glendale’s high schools
Our dedicated, passionate proponent Traffic Education Program Manager Cassandra Johnston does an excellent job keeping students focused and making an impact on their driving habits. Check out a recent article “The Glendale Star” wrote on “Alive at 25.” Great job to Cassandra and everyone in the city who supports safe driving!
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
· Kristen Jones - Budget and Finance
· Derek Labounty - Fire
· Zander Lee - Fire
· Zachary Lime - Fire
· Leslie Martin - Human Resources
· Hector Puente Nevarez - Parks and Recreation
· Guyton Penns - Parks and Recreation
· Emiliano Reyes - Field Operations
· Estevan Romero - City Court
· Sarah Baker - City Court
· Joshua Barnes - Fire
· Crystal Bartmess - Engineering
· Cutter Chamberlain - Economic Development
· Jeff Guadarrama - Water Services
· William Gordon III - Fire
· Braden Harvey - Fire
· Jessica Hernandez - Fire
· Kyle Hutcheson - Fire
· Christopher Rupolo - Parks and Recreation
· Brendon Russell Jr. - Fire
· Justin Schragel - Police
· Mario Sepulveda - Water Services
· Megan Smith - Budget and Finance
· Brooke Stahl - Field Operations
· Christain Valverde - Fire
· Johnathan Webb - Police
· Janinne Winstel - Parks and Recreation
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY
Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated!
