Read Across America Week was celebrated from March 2 - 6, beginning on the birthday of the beloved author, Dr. Seuss. The entire month of March is dedicated to reading. Thank you to Freedom Traditional, Countryside and Canyon Ridge for inviting us to participate and read to your students during Read Across America Week.
Arts & Culture Grant Program Accepting Applications
The City is accepting applications for an Arts & Cultural Advisory Commission-led grant program to assist community organizations pursuing arts and cultural events or activities that benefit City of Surprise residents. To be considered, applicants must be a 501(c)3 organization or partner with a 501(c)3 verified agency.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 21. It is preferred that completed applications be emailed to danielle.osborne@surpriseaz.gov. If an email is not possible, you can mail the application to:
Human Service & Community Vitality
Attention: Danielle Osborne
City of Surprise
16000 N. Civic Center Plz.
Surprise, AZ 85374
The application, program details and eligibility requirements are available online at surpriseaz.gov/artsgrant.
Free Course: When Disaster Strikes
The City of Surprise is encouraging community members to take advantage of a FREE course hosted at City Hall on April 20 and 21 called “When Disaster Strikes: Prepare, Act, Survive.” This two-day FEMA class helps prepare residents for when a disaster happens to be able to help themselves, their families and other community members. Registration is required through the state’s online registration system. For more information, click here.
Surprise Day of Service
Please join us at our next Surprise Day of Service on April 22 from 8 a.m. - noon at Freedom Traditional Academy. We will be bagging beans to support the Valley View Community Food Bank. This event is made possible thanks to the Surprise Community Outreach Program grant, Seeds of Hope International, Dysart Unified School District, Valley View Community Food Bank and Surprise Human Service Community Vitality Department. This is a kid-friendly volunteer opportunity, open to all ages. Registration is required. Please contact Larry Garcia at Larry.Garcia@surpriseaz.gov or 623.222.1522.
Surprise Housing Study
Give your opinion on housing needs in Surprise at a community meeting on April 10!
Residents can choose to attend a 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. session.
Both are inside the Community Room in Surprise City Hall at 16000 N. Civic Center Plz.
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.
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 will be available through April 18 at the Surprise Resource Center and at Riverboat Bingo through April 12. See the press release for more information.
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, so we've compiled a list to help you spot your new favorite joint! Check out the latest list here.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bases and Brews Music Fest
Thank you to our incredible Sports and Tourism Department for hosting the City’s first music festival. The three-day event featured national headlining music acts like Andy Grammar, Chris Lane, WALK THE MOON and Lovelytheband; live entertainment; a carnival; artisan booths and so much more! What a great way to bring the community together and celebrate the end of the Spring Training season.
Thank you for joining us at our 3rd Annual Care & Share Expo on Saturday, March 4.
The City of Surprise would like to give a shoutout to our sponsors and vendors for making this event possible! And a HUGE thank you to the City of Surprise Human Service & Community Vitality department for putting together such a wonderful event!
DUSD Essay Contest Winners
At the City Council meeting on March 7, we recognized the winners of the Dysart Unified School District essay contest. In partnership with DUSD, students across the district were invited to participate. Tied for first place in the 3rd-4th grade category are Cadence Fumia and Rose Vasquez; first place in the 5th-8th grade category is Tatianna Pellegrino; and first place in the high school category is Kaleb Delgado. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Consumer Cellular Ribbon Cutting
On Friday, March 17, I joined Consumer Cellular CEO, Ed Evans; Vice President, Austin Colcord; Chief Marketing Officer, Craig Lister; and their team in celebrating the grand opening of their new location in Surprise! We are so lucky to have them join our community!
Valley Vista High School Basketball Champs!
Tuesday, March 21, City Council recognized the Valley Vista High School girls basketball team for winning the 2023 Arizona Interscholastic Association 6A State Championship. This is the Monsoon’s fourth consecutive 6A girls basketball state title and sixth championship in the last seven years. Congratulations to these outstanding student athletes!
FatCats Grand Opening
On Friday, March 24, Vice Mayor Chris Judd, Councilmember Patrick Duffy, Councilmember Nick Haney, Councilmember Jack Hastings, Councilmember Aly Cline and I joined owners Sean Collins and Dave Rutter; CEO Paul Brockbank; and GM Thomas Wilson to celebrate the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of FatCats All Out Fun in Surprise! We are all excited to have this wonderful new addition to our community!
2023 State of the City
Thursday, March 30 was an incredible evening! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us at the 2023 Surprise State of the City. And a HUGE thank you to our performers who put on a stellar show! Did you miss the video? Watch it here: surprisetv.surpriseaz.gov/index.php/watch
COMING UP
Eggstravaganza
Egg hunters are invited to join the search for candy and toy-filled plastic eggs as part of the City’s Eggstravaganza event on April 8 at the Surprise Recreation Campus - Kansas City Practice fields, located at 15850 N. Bullard Ave. The event is free, but canned foods are being collected at the gate for Valley View Community Food Bank. This family event will feature face painters, balloon artists, inflatables and of course Mr. & Mrs. Bunny! Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Hunts are separated by age group and continue approximately every 30 minutes, with an open hunt at the end for those who have missed their age group.
Approximate hunt times:
8:20 a.m.: 2 and under*
8:50 a.m.: 3 - 4 year olds*
9:20 a.m.: 5 - 6 year olds**
9:40 a.m.: 7 - 8 year olds**
10 a.m.: 9 - 10 year olds**
10:20 a.m.: All ages**
*1 parent allowed on field
**Age group may be combined or split based on participation numbers. Times subject to change.
Children participating in the hunt should bring baskets or bags to hold treats and eggs. The event will conclude at 11:30 a.m.
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!
April Events
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.
City Council Meetings
The next City Council Meeting will be held on April 18. City Council Work sessions begin at 4 p.m., while City Council Meetings follow at 6 p.m. You can also watch live on surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise, or on Cox channel 11. We hope to see you there.
