September is shaping up to be a fun month in Surprise. Don’t miss our Backyard Bash: 90s Edition later this month, a free, family-friendly event full of music, games and nostalgia. And in October, the Diamond in the Desert fundraiser will bring us together in support of the White Tank Mountains Conservancy with an evening of dinner, music and community under the stars.

I hope to see you out enjoying these wonderful events that make our city such a special place to live!

Inside This Issue:

Economic Development Update

• Surprise Economic Development Team Earns International Award
• Now Open in Surprise!
• Opening Soon!

Events

• Diamond in the Desert Event
• Backyard Bash
• City Council Meeting
• Community Meeting
• Dysart Community Connection Tour
• Water Workshop
• Fire First Fridays
• Surprise Hosts Dementia Awareness & Resource Fair
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Appointments
• Hiring Event in Surprise
• Live at Asante

August Highlights

• AZ League of Cities and Towns Conference

News & Updates

• Surprise Fiesta Grande – Vendor and Car Show Entries Needed
• Free Diaper Support Program
• Tax Preparation Volunteers Needed
• Heat Relief Stations

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Surprise Economic Development Team Earns International Award

Congratulations to the City’s Economic Development team for earning a 2025 Silver Award in Multimedia Promotion from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its playful and attention-grabbing #KaleEmergency April Fools’ Day video.

The lighthearted video imagined a kale emergency shortage in Surprise, using humor to create buzz while cleverly pitching the city as the perfect location for a Whole Foods Market. The social media campaign drew high engagement from residents, businesses and viewers across the country, generating attention for Surprise as a vibrant and desirable retail destination. Watch the video here: bit.ly/45jzARU.

Now Open in Surprise!

• Nordstrom Rack - 14067 N. Prasada Pkwy.
• Venetian Nail Lounge - 14462 W. Elm St., Suite 125
• Sunday Goods - 13130 W. Bell Rd.

Opening Soon!

• Aldi - 17038 W. Waddell Rd. 
• DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse - Prasada North
• Dual Marriott - Village at Prasada
• Fox Cigar Bar - Waddell & Litchfield roads
• King’s Mechanical Inc. - 13326 N. Dysart Rd., Suite 110
• Sierra Trading Post - Prasada North
• Sportsmans Warehouse - 14085 N. Prasada Pkwy.

EVENTS

Diamond in the Desert Event

Join us for Diamond in the Desert, the White Tank Mountain Conservancy’s (WTMC) signature fundraising event, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at The Corral at White Tank Ranch, 20300 W. Olive Ave., Waddell, AZ 85355, for an unforgettable evening under the stars!

Enjoy a lively night of country music and dancing, delicious food and drinks and the thrill of both live and silent auctions, all in support of a meaningful cause. Your participation helps advance WTMC’s mission to promote sustainable development and protect the vital wildlife corridors and rich biodiversity of our treasured White Tank Mountains.

At their inaugural event, they welcomed 150 guests and raised $68,000. This year, they’re aiming even higher, with 300 attendees and a goal of raising $90,000!

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with community leaders, make lasting memories and contribute to a cause that protects one of Arizona’s natural gems.

Backyard Bash

Mark your calendars and rewind the time – it’s gonna be all that AND a bag of chips! We’re throwing it way back! Join us at Mark Coronado Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., on September 26, at 5 p.m., for our first-ever Backyard Bash: 90s Edition—a nostalgic night full of flavor, fun and fly vibes for the whole fam. Get ready to relive the raddest decade ever!

Event highlights include:

• Half pipe skate shows that’ll blow your scrunchies off
• Rad local food trucks
• Retro gaming zone
• Live DJ spinning your favorite 90s tracks
• Totally tubular 90s photobooth
• Market vendors

Whether you were team Lisa Frank or Game Boy, rocked JNCOs or jelly sandals—this party is for YOU!

City Council Meetings

The next City Council Meeting is on September 16 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Government Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11.

Community Meeting

Join me for my Community Meeting on September 17 at 6 p.m. at Tap House Sports Grill, located at 13699 N. Litchfield Rd. Let's discuss the latest City issues and answer any questions you may have.

Please check my webpage at surpriseaz.gov/District6 for updates to my meeting schedule.

Dysart Community Connection Tour

Dysart Unified School District invites community members to learn about Dysart, and tour several of their schools on Wednesday, September 17 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will begin at the Dysart district office Governing Board room, located at 15802 N. Parkview Pl. Breakfast will be served, and an overview of the district will be shared by Dysart Schools Superintendent, Dr. John Croteau. 

All business leaders, neighbors, parents, retirees, government employees or interest people are invited to attend. A limited number of seats are available for the tour, and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested community members can reserve a space online at Dysart.org/Tour or by phone at 623.876.7195.

Water Workshop

A beautiful outdoor landscape can be an oasis during the summer months. We can help you turn your outdoor space into an inviting environment with water-wise design that attracts a variety of butterflies and other pollinators. Join us for our “More Than Monarchs” workshop on September 20, from 9 - 10:30 a.m. To register, visit surpriseaz.gov/WaterWorkshops. 

Fire First Fridays

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is offering free life-saving knowledge and training. These classes aim to provide attendees with basic emergency response training in a comfortable and stress-free environment so community members will know how to start helping while waiting for emergency crews. Please note the registration forms below are only open two weeks before the class date.

To register and get more information, visit surpriseaz.gov/FireFirstFridays. Please note, registration forms open two weeks before the class date. The maximum class size is 40 people for each session. Participants must be 12 years old or older, and a registered adult must accompany attendees aged 12 - 17.

Surprise Hosts Dementia Awareness & Resource Fair

The City is partnering with Dementia Friendly Arizona, Banner Sun Health Research Institute and other community partners to provide a free event designed to raise awareness about Dementia, reduce stigma and connect attendees to valuable resources. 

This event will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Surprise Regional Library, 16089 N. Bullard Ave. and provides a unique opportunity for our community to understand dementia and its impacts, gain knowledge and insight on brain health and learn how to support individuals living with Dementia.

Check-in will be at 9 a.m., followed by three presentations:

• 9:15 a.m. - Dementia Friends Information Session with Janice Greeno, MA, Banner Sun Health Research Institute/Banner Alzheimer’s Institute 
• 10 a.m. - Brain Health & Healthy Aging Presentation with Dr. Andrew Hiep Ho, DO, Banner Sun Health Research Institute
• 11 a.m. - World Alzheimer’s Day Proclamation presented by Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor

The City of Surprise is a member of the Dementia-Friendly America network of communities and partners to offer Dementia Friendly sessions for those living with memory loss and their care partners. Learn more at surpriseaz.gov/DementiaFriendly

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Appointments

Surprise has officially moved the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program to a monthly appointment system. Surprise residents can request an appointment for HHW collection pickup right from their driveway during one week each month.

The collection of these materials is split into two types and scheduled separately. One pick-up is for electronic HHW, including flat-screen TVs, computers and cell phones. Another is for all other HHW.

Pickup periods through June 2026:

• October 13-16, 2025
• November 3-6, 2025
• December 2025 – No Pickups
• January 2026 – No Pickups
• February 9-12, 2026
• March 9-12, 2026
• April 13-16, 2026
• May 11-14, 2026
• June 8-11, 2026

For more information on acceptable items, visit surpriseaz.gov/HHW.

To schedule a collection, residents can use the My Surprise app or call customer service at 623.222.1920. All scheduling is based on availability and is first-come, first-served.

Hiring Event in Surprise

The City, in partnership with ARIZONA@WORK, is hosting a free hiring event on Thursday, September 25, to connect job seekers with more than 20 different employers currently hiring in the West Valley. This event will be held from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Surprise Regional Library, 16089 N. Bullard Ave. 

Job seekers can meet potential employers and establish professional relationships in a convenient, time-saving setting. 

A variety of organizations and businesses will be in attendance, including:

• Always Caring HomeCare
• Arizona Department of Public Safety
• Avondale School District 
• City of Surprise
• Department of Veterans’ Services
• Desert Diamond Casinos 
• DJC Rock Home Care 
• Dysart Schools 
• Haydon Companies  
• H&R Block 
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection  

Prospective candidates should come to the event ready for potential onsite interviews and possible job offers. Attendees will also have a chance to learn about ARIZONA@WORK and the different services and resources they provide to help job seekers pursue employment opportunities.

For more information, contact Melinda Greenhouse by calling 623.222.1630 or email Melinda.Greenhouse@maricopa.gov.

Live at Asante

LIVE at Asante is a free and casual outdoor performance series at Asante Library for all ages. This America’s 250th celebration series runs the third Thursday of each month from September 2025 through May 2026 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Asante Library, 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr. Each event will feature a different genre and include a brief history of its importance in America’s music. Featuring live music provided by On Stage Now, free arts activities and food trucks! Bring your lawn chair, your friends and your family for an evening of entertainment. RSVP recommended at surpriseaz.gov/ArtsSignUp.

Upcoming Performances

• September 18 | Alternative Indie Rock | Cierra Rei (opener) and Loveyoubye (headliner)
• October 16 | Country-Pop | Anjanette Indelicato (opener) and Rhonda Jo and Shawn Royer (headliner)
• November 20 | Acoustic Pop | Abby Walker (opener) and Kenyon France Duo (headliner)
• December 18 | Acoustic Indie Folk | Jerry Scarsbrook (opener) and Jacobe Reinartz Duo (headliner)
• January 15 | Country Roots | JT Sheets (opener) and Cole Clark Duo (headliner)

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

AZ League of Cities and Towns Conference

The Arizona League of Cities conference gave me the chance to connect with many of our region’s elected officials and community leaders. Building these relationships is an important part of creating strong, vibrant cities, and I’m proud to bring fresh ideas and renewed energy back to our work here at home.