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Aly Cline: District 2 Newsletter — March 2023

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Be sure to add this to your list of amazing things to do in Surprise! Check out Bases and Brews Fest, March 24-26. This family-friendly festival is at Mark Coronado Park next to Surprise Stadium, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., and will be featuring national and local award-winning entertainment, thrilling performers, exhilarating midway rides and games, classic festival food and interactive activities for all ages.

Saturday, March 25: Andy Grammer co-headlining with Chris Lane
Sunday, March 26: WALK THE MOON with special guest lovelytheband

Bases and Brews Music Fest hours are as follows:
Friday, March 24: 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Saturday, March 25: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday, March 26: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

For more information on ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities and the festival schedule, please visit BasesandBrewsFest.com.

Bases and Brews Music Festival

Library card design contest

With the launch of a new Surprise Public Library System, Surprise is asking residents of all ages to help design the new library cards! Submit a design in one of three age categories: Youth (10 and under), Teen (11-17) and Adult (18 and over). One winner will be chosen from each category. 

Beginning July 1, library patrons will be able to choose from one of the winning card designs, or a standard logo card, for use at the three City of Surprise libraries – Asante, Hollyhock and Northwest/Surprise Regional. Download the design template and submission form at surpriseaz.gov/library and then submit your card design in one of the following ways:

  • In person: Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., Surprise, AZ 85374; Attention: Kelsey Lamphier 
  • By email: library@surpriseaz.gov (If selected, winner will be asked to provide original artwork.)

For questions about the library card design contest, please email library@surpriseaz.gov or call 623.222.2900.

The Grand renaming ribbon cutting

On Thursday, February 2, Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Judd and I joined Bob Aiken, President, and Rene Mitchell, Vice President, of The Grand for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the new branding of their community, formerly known as Sun City Grand. Congratulations!

Vice Mayor Judd, Councilmember Cline, Bob Aiken and Rene Mitchell standing in front of the new sign for The Grand.

Surprise restaurant list

Are you looking to discover new places to dine in Surprise? In a community growing as quickly as ours, there are frequent updates to the ever-expanding list of restaurants in the community, so we’ve compiled a list to help you spot your new favorite joint! Check out the latest list here.

State of the City

I’d like to invite you to attend the 2023 State of the City event, including a video presentation sharing the story of Surprise. From the chapters already written to the ones yet to be penned, this plot is worth turning the page for! Stay afterwards for a celebration that includes a showcase of the City’s programs and services, including police and fire vehicle displays!

We will also have entertainment from some of our Dysart Unified Schools and City-run specialty classes, as well as complimentary refreshments.

Here are the event details:

Thursday, March 30
Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz.
Parking Map
6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. State of the City Video Premiere, Council Chambers*
6:30 - 8 p.m. City Showcase, City Hall First Floor & Outside Courtyard

*The State of the City video premiere will also be carried live and rebroadcast on Surprise TV and online at surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv. It will also be live streamed on the City of Surprise Facebook page. Get more information at surpriseaz.gov/SOTC.

2023 State of the City event

Eggstravaganza vendors wanted

The City of Surprise invites interested outreach organizations, promotional vendors and local businesses to participate in our Eggstravaganza event this spring! The event is free and features fun for the whole family. Residents will enjoy inflatables, face painting, a special appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Bunny and a series of egg hunts filled with fun toys and treats.

Eggstravaganza is Saturday, April 8, from 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Surprise Recreation Campus located at 15850 N. Bullard Ave. The promotional booth fee is $500 for business vendors and $150 for non-profits. This includes a 10x10 vendor tent, one table and two chairs. Please note space is limited!

To reserve your spot, go to surpriseaz.gov/surpriserec where you can create an account for your organization if you haven’t already, then click the ‘Special Events’ tab where you can register. You can also call 623.222.2000.

Top 25 Champion School

Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Judd, Councilmember Haney, Councilmember Hastings and I had a great time on Monday, February 6, supporting the Valley Vista High School Special Olympics Unified Team at an event held by the NFL and ESPN. This team was named a Top 25 Champion School in the nation. Congratulations!

Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Judd and Councilmembers Cline, Haney and Hastings pose for a picture on the track at Valley Vista High School.

Redistricting 2023

It's time to update the City Council district boundaries in Surprise, and we're asking for resident participation in the process! Redistricting is an effort to ensure all voices are represented equally and fairly by creating districts with nearly the same number of people in them. You can give input on where the boundary lines for our six City Council districts should be through online tools or at one of our public meetings. Get the details here.

HealthyU Clinics ribbon cutting

On Thursday, February 9, Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Judd and I joined Trase Barney, CEO, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new HealthyU Clinics location in Surprise. We are excited to welcome them to our community!

Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Judd and Councilmember Cline join HealthyU Clinic for a ribbon cutting outside their Surprise location.

Surprise Stadium special events & promos

  • Resident Appreciation Days courtesy of Fat Cats: now through March 11
  • College Days – college student discount during Spring Break! March 5 - 19
  • Pup Nights at Surprise Stadium: March 8 & 23 Purchase here 
  • Sunday Funday Family Four Pack for $44 (Every Sunday) 
  • Kids Run the Bases presented by Uptown Alley (Every Sunday) 
  • Military & First Responder Appreciation Days (Every Sunday) 

For Spring Training tickets and more information on the events listed above, head to SurpriseStadium.com.

Surprise Galentine’s celebration

On Thursday, February 16, Surprise Economic Development welcomed Mayor Hall, Winnie Fritz, the Spring 2023 graduating AZ TechCelerator Dream Builder class and me to the first-ever ever Surprise Galentine’s celebration. The event was filled with Surprise women business leaders coming together to network and celebrate friendship, community and waffles!

Mayor Hall poses for a photo with Surprise Economic Development, Councilmember Aly Cline, Winnie Fritz and others.

Tax assistance

Tax season is right around the corner, and the City of Surprise Human Service and Community Vitality Department, in partnership with A New Leaf, offers free tax preparation services to individuals and families with qualifying incomes. 

Tax preparation assistance is available now through April 18 at the Surprise Resource Center and at Riverboat Bingo until April 12. See the press release for more information. 

Poetry, art and more!

Are you ready to discover arts and culture events in Surprise? From theater performances, gallery tours, poetry readings and more, make sure to mark your calendar to attend!

March Events

  • March 9 • 10 - 11 a.m.
    Public Art Tour of City Hall
  • March 16 • Noon
    Lunchtime Theater – West Valley Symphony Jam Session | Arts HQ, $15

April Events

  • April 6 • 12 - 1 p.m.
    Lunchtime Theater – Salty Dawgs Calypso and Folk Music
  • April 11 • 11 - 12 p.m.
    AZ Speaks - “Growing in the Desert: The History & Culture of the Tohono O’odham”
  • April 15 • 11 - 3 p.m.
    Public Art Bus Tour to "Cowgirl Up!" exhibit
  • April 21 • 6 - 8 p.m.
    Poetry Slam at WHAM

All dates and times are subject to change. All events are free unless otherwise stated. To register for Public Art Tours and AZ Speaks presented by Arizona Humanities, head to surpriseaz.gov/artssignup. For Lunchtime Theater, contact Arts HQ at 623.584.2626 or visit westvalleyarts.org/theater. To learn more about Poetry Slam, contact WHAM at 623.584.8311 or visit wham-art.org/poetry. Want to see what else is on the 2022-2023 arts & culture calendar? All events are listed online at surpriseaz.gov/arts.

Community Meeting

My monthly Community Meeting will be at 6 p.m. on March 28 at The Grand in the Pima Room, 19781 N. Remington Dr., and at 10 a.m. on March 31 at Arizona Traditions in the Ballroom, 17221 N. Citrus Rd. I look forward to discussing the latest City news and answering any questions you have. 

City Council Meetings

The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is March 21 at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to in person attendance, or you can watch live on surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise or on Cox channel 11.