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Skip Hall: Mayor Newsletter — December 2022

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Join us for our Deck the Hock holiday event! This free, family-friendly celebration will be held on December 8, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Surprise Senior Center. Help bring holiday cheer to local families in need by bringing a new, unwrapped gift and a handmade or new ornament to the celebration. We are sponsoring two families this year. Click here to see their wish lists and more information about the event. If you are unable to make it, but would still like to donate, you can drop items off at the Surprise Senior Center, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., between November 30 and December 8.

Deck the Hock, December 8

MLK Day of Celebration and Service

The City of Surprise is excited to announce the 7th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration and Service, to be held Saturday, January 14 at The Vista Center for the Arts. In preparation for the celebration, the City is seeking sponsors, performers, art contest submissions and community service volunteers. For more information, please contact Lord Garcillano at lord.garcillano@surpriseaz.gov or visit surpriseaz.gov/MLK.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration and Service

Registration open for Spring Training 5k & 1k

Friday, March 3 is the 5th Annual Surprise Spring Training 5K and 1K Fun Run presented by Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Register now at SurpriseStadium.com/events to take advantage of the discounted rates; 5K: $30 and 1K: $15. Early registration ends March 2 and then prices increase to 5K: $40 and 1K: $20. 

Special promotional and vendor opportunities are available. For vendor information, contact Cecilia at 623.222.2253 or cecilia.covarrubio@surpriseaz.gov.

Spring Training 5k 1k

Spring Training schedule & ticket information

Spring Training single game tickets are now on sale! Opening day is Friday, February 24 with the Kansas City Royals taking on the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium.

Surprise Stadium will host 30 games this season, including matchups against every team in the Cactus League. Additionally, the Royals have been selected to host a World Baseball Classic exhibition game at Surprise Stadium against Great Britain.

For questions or more information about Spring Training, please visit SurpriseStadium.com or call 623.222.2222.

2023 Spring Training, Feb 24 through March 25

Winter Adult Sports registration

The Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting team registration for Winter Adult Co-Ed and Men’s Softball; Co-Ed and Women’s Kickball; Adult Basketball; Co-Ed Indoor Volleyball; and Adult Flag Football leagues. 

Returning teams from Surprise Fall 2022 Adult Sports Leagues may register December 5 and 6 by contacting the Parks & Recreation office in person between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m, by calling 623.222.2000 or by emailing ian.wallace@surpriseaz.gov

Registration will open to non-returning and new teams starting December 7 online, over the phone or at the Parks and Recreation office - 15960 N. Bullard Ave. Must register as a team (minimum number of players listed on registration page). Registration available online at surpriseaz.gov/surpriserec.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/3GpCFUp

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HIGHLIGHTS

Purple Heart proclamation

At the November 1 City Council Meeting, I officially proclaimed November 11, 2022, as the “240th Anniversary of the Purple Heart Award” in the City of Surprise. As part of the proclamation, the City took part in the national initiative “Light to Unite” and lit City Hall purple on November 11. This show of appreciation was meant to honor the sacrifices all Purple Heart Medal recipients made while defending our freedoms. The City of Surprise has been a Purple Heart City since 2017. To learn more about the initiative, please visit mclnational.org.

Mayor Hall presents the a proclamation

Stronger Today Fitness ribbon cutting

On Thursday, November 3, Vice Mayor Cline, Councilmember Winters and I joined local business owner Diana Smithson for the grand opening of her new Stronger Today Fitness location at 11294 W. Bell Rd. Thank you for choosing Surprise!

Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Cline and Councilmember Winters pose for a picture with Stronger Today Fitness

SWORD+ ribbon cutting

Friday, November 4, Councilmember Winters and I joined local business owner Lisa Sayles for a ribbon cutting at her new SWORD+ store in Surprise! The new store is located at 13839 W. Bell Rd. Welcome to Surprise!

Mayor Hall, Councilmember Winters and the owner of Swords+

Arby’s ribbon cutting

On Monday, November 7, Vice Mayor Cline, Councilmembers Duffy & Winters and I joined Arby's Area Supervisor Arlette Murray and her team for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of their new location at 13641 N. Prasada Pkwy. Congratulations and welcome to Surprise!

Surprise City Council joins Arby's for a ribbon cutting

8th Annual Veterans Day Parade

The City of Surprise came out to honor our Veterans at the 8th Annual Veterans Day Parade on Friday, November 11. Thank you to the Parks and Recreation team for putting together such an amazing event that has become a family tradition. And a big thank you to all who have selflessly served and continue to serve our country.

a group of people in uniform holding flags

Americo Builders ribbon cutting

Monday, November 14, Councilmembers Chris Judd, Ken Remley, Roland Winters and I joined Chris Kent, President of Americo Builders, for a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of their new office. Thank you for choosing Surprise!

Surprise City Council members join Americo for a ribbon cutting

Key to the City

During the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, November 15, City Council and I presented a key to the city to Senator Rick Gray. We are appreciative of the Senator’s support of policies and initiatives that have advanced health, safety and quality of life in Surprise. Congratulations to Senator Gray!

Surprise City Council and Senator Rick Gray take a photo in the council chambers.

1Stop Nails & Spa

Monday, November 21, Councilmember Roland Winters, Vice Mayor Aly Cline and I joined Chris Huynh, the new owner of 1Stop Nails & Spa, for a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new ownership. 1Stop Nails & Spa is located at 19509 N. Sunrise Blvd., Suite 2. Welcome to Surprise!

Mayor Hall, Vice Mayor Cline and Councilmember Winters join 1Stop Nails and Spa for a ribbon cutting

A New Leaf groundbreaking ceremony

An exciting new resource in Surprise! Councilmember Remley, Councilmember Winters and I proudly joined in the groundbreaking ceremony of A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Center on Friday, November 18. It is expected to open in Spring of 2023!

Surprise City Council members posing for a photo with a group of people holding shovels

COMING UP

Surprise Founder’s Day Party

This year’s Surprise Party will pay tribute to one of our original festivals – Founder’s Day! Join us on Saturday, December 3 from 2 - 9 p.m. as we celebrate the City’s history with a carnival! Enjoy drone light shows, live and roaming entertainment, great food, photo opportunities with Santa in Santa’s Workshop, and the traditional tree lighting ceremony. More information: surpriseaz.gov/surpriseparty

Surprise Founders Day Party

Surprise SciTech Festival

Join us in celebrating STEAM efforts in Surprise on December 10 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Mark Coronado Park Parking Lot. Come interact with hands-on information STEAM Exhibits! Admission is free! For more information, visit surpriseaz.gov/SciTech.

2022 SciTech Festival

Poetry, art and more!

As temperatures cool, the arts scene in Surprise is heating up. You can find amazing arts and cultural events – from theater performances, gallery tours, poetry readings and more. Check out what’s coming up and mark your calendar to attend!

DECEMBER EVENTS:

  • December 8 ● 10 - 11 a.m.
    Public Art Tour of City Hall
  • December 15 ● Noon
    Lunchtime Theater – West Valley Chorale | Arts HQ, $15
  • December 16 ● 6 - 8 p.m.
    Poetry Slam at WHAM

JANUARY EVENTS:

  • January 19 ● 9 a.m. - Noon
    Public Art Tour of local art galleries
  • January 21 ● 10 a.m. - Noon
    Tour of artist Joe Tyler’s Home & Studio
  • January 24 ● 11 a.m. - Noon
    AZ Speaks at Council Chambers
    “Deconstructing the Taco: The History and Lore of a Beloved Food” by Gregory McNamee
  • January 26 ● Noon
    Lunchtime Theater  Phoenix Opera | Arts HQ, $15

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

Upcoming City Council Meetings will be held on December 6 and 20. 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.