Notes for June 2007
You can vote early in Sept. 11 city election
Celebrate Independence Day in Phoenix
Municipal Court is city's newest 'hot spot'
Transit offers neighborhood circulators
Copper theft on the rise
City programs help residents become homeowners
Help fight West Nile virus
Homeless need help
Kids looking for grandparents
Head Start recruiting children
Hazardous waste collections resume in September 
You can vote early in Sept. 11 city election
Phoenix voters will have an opportunity to vote by mail in the Sept. 11 election for mayor and city council members in districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 and on six ballot measures.Request forms to vote by mail - now the most popular way for Phoenix residents to cast ballots in city elections - are being mailed this month to all registered city voters.
You'll need to sign the request form and mail it back in order to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
Early ballot request forms also are available at phoenix.gov and at city public service counters and city libraries.
Early ballots will be mailed beginning in early August to voters who have submitted requests, but your signed request must be received by the City Clerk no later than Friday, Aug. 31.
The election is open to all Phoenix residents who are registered voters and reside within the city limits at least 29 days prior to the election.
In addition to voting by mail, residents may cast early ballots between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays from Aug. 13 through Sept. 7 at Phoenix City Hall, City Clerk Department, 15th Floor, 200 W. Washington St., and other sites.
For voters with disabilities who may need accommodations in the voting process, electronic voting equipment now will be available at early voting sites and other locations selected to serve the disability community. The new equipment will accommodate various types of disabilities to enable all voters to vote independently.
For more information, visit phoenix.gov or call 602-261-VOTE (8683) or 602-534-2737/TTY.
Celebrate Independence Day in Phoenix
Families will have three opportunities to join in free celebrations that honor military veterans and offer great fireworks shows for the Independence Day holiday."After Dark in the Park," which will be 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Deer Valley Park, 19th Avenue and Utopia Road, will feature local entertainment, games, food and a fireworks display at 8:45 p.m.
"Light up the Sky" will be 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, at Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Ave. It will feature games and other attractions for young kids, special youth activities, information booths and a fireworks show that will begin at 9:30 p.m.
The "Fabulous Phoenix 4th" will be 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, at Steele Indian School Park, Third Street and Indian School Road. It will feature rides and other activities for children, local entertainment, food vendors and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
For those who want to see an early fireworks show, there will be a special display at 9 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex, 9833 N. 25th Ave., as part of a softball tournament.
Municipal Court is city's newest 'hot spot'
The city has added another facility to its growing list of locations where public wireless Internet is available.The Municipal Court jury assembly room joins five other city "hot spots" where visitors can use their laptop computer, personal digital assistant or other wireless-ready devices to access filtered wireless Internet.
Jurors who wish to take advantage of the new service simply have to bring a wireless-ready device when they report to court.
To assist them in using the service, a user's guide is available at the court and online at phoenix.gov/itd/wifi.html.
However, the city does not provide technical advice concerning connectivity or other technical issues.
Wireless Internet also is available at Sky Harbor International Airport, the Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Burton Barr Central Library, City Council chambers and the first three floors of City Hall. The service will expand to some community centers later in the year.
Transit offers neighborhood circulators
The Phoenix Public Transit Department's slogan, "It's How You Get There," is taking on new meaning for some residents around the city.They'll be getting to their close-to-home destinations via a new type of free transit service - the neighborhood circulator.
Public Transit will begin introducing the Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator to the Maryvale/Desert Sky and Sunnyslope communities on July 23.
Modeled after the service that's been operating in the Ahwatukee Foothills area for six years, neighborhood circulators transport residents that short distance - a mile or two - to their favorite places such as the grocery store or the community center. Residents of the three communities helped pick the destinations and plan each route, which equate to about a 10-mile round trip.
For more information about Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator routes, go to phoenix.gov/publictransit/circulator or call 602-262-7242 or TTY 602-495-0936.
Copper theft on the rise
A sharp increase in the price of copper, has led to an equally sharp increase in the theft of materials containing copper.Police urge residents to report any suspicious activity that might involve the theft of electrical wiring in city parks or temporary water meters at construction sites, wiring and water meters at new residential subdivisions and other copper materials from air conditioning units and other appliances.
In addition, businesses that use metal material should take extra precaution in securing them. Residents also are asked not to leave loose metal material in the open.
Call 911, crime stop at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 602-262-7667 if you see suspicious activity.
City programs help residents become homeowners
Homeownership has long been the cornerstone of the American dream.And each June, communities across the country mark National Homeownership Month by spreading the word about innovative programs that can help families and individuals join the growing ranks of homeowners.
Today, the national homeownership rate is at a near record high of 68.5 percent, and about one-half of minority families own their homes.
In Phoenix, residents have access to a variety of special programs that offer residents low-interest mortgages and financial assistance with down payments and closing costs so they can become homeowners.
Among them are:
- Home in Five, which offers eligible individuals and families low-interest, 30-year fixed mortgages and a 5 percent grant for down payment and closing costs to purchase a single-family residence, townhouse, condominium or manufactured home anywhere in Maricopa County.
- American Dream Down-Payment Initiative, which provides eligible first-time homebuyers up to $10,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance to aid in the purchase of any approved single-family residence in the city.
- HOMEStart, which makes available down payment and closing-cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing a home located in the city and constructed or rehabbed by city-approved nonprofit developers. Qualified buyers can receive up to $30,000 in assistance.
- NewHOME, which offers qualified first-time homebuyers up to $30,000 in assistance toward the purchase of a new home constructed to meet city infill standards.
- HOMEChoice, which offers up to $30,000 in assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers who have a disabled member in their household. The deferred, no-interest loan can assist with down payments, closing costs and/or accessibility modifications needed in a home located in the city.
For more information, call 602-262-4438 or visit phoenix.gov/housing/hoo_mit.html.
Help fight West Nile virus
Maricopa County officials who are combating the West Nile virus this year are looking for a helping hand from residents.They urge everyone to become better educated on how to prevent the spread of the potentially serious virus, which is passed to humans through the bite of mosquitoes that have become infected from feeding on infected birds.
The county is monitoring and testing mosquitoes, using larvae-eating bacteria in standing water to kill them and fogging some areas with pesticides. However, officials say if residents pitch in, the chances of the virus spreading can be reduced even further and fewer neighborhoods will require fogging.
Here are steps you can take to help:
- Mosquito proof your home by keeping swimming pools, spas, decorative ponds and fountains clean; remove standing water from old tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, gutters, pet dishes, wading pools, birdbaths and plant pots every four to five days; have good screens on your windows and doors; and properly maintain evaporative coolers.
- Because mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants during those times and wear light-colored clothing that can help you see mosquitoes that land on you.
- Notify the county of "green pools" or mosquito problems in your neighborhood and help neighbors rid their yards of standing water.
For more information or to file complaints, call 602-506-0700 or visit maricopa.gov/wnv.
Homeless need help
Many homeless individuals and families who live on the city streets could use a little extra help to make it through the summer.You can help by donating unopened water bottles, sunscreen, new underwear, white socks, white T-shirts and prepackaged items such as individually wrapped cookies and crackers.
Financial donations also are welcomed.
The tax-deductible donations may be delivered through Sept. 28 to the city's four family services centers
Travis L. Williams, 4732 S. Central Ave., 602-534-4732
John F. Long, 3454 N. 51st Ave., 602-262-6510
Central Phoenix, 1250 S. Seventh Ave., 602-534-1250
Sunnyslope, 914 W. Hatcher Road, 602-495-5229 - weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Kids looking for grandparents
If you're over 60 and would like to volunteer some of your spare time to help kids, consider the city's Foster Grandparent program.Volunteers serve a minimum of 20 hours per week mentoring Head Start children, ages 3 to 5, in classrooms in the Alhambra, Deer Valley and Washington school districts.
Participants, who must pass a background check and attend training classes, are eligible for a small stipend, meals during service time, a physical exam and accident and liability insurance while on duty.
For more information, call 602-262-4021.
Head Start recruiting children
Phoenix, Maricopa County and Southwest Human Development Head Start programs are recruiting children for the 2007-08 school year.Families must meet federal income guidelines for family size, and children must be 3 or 4 before Sept. 1 to be eligible to enroll. Parents of children with special needs are encouraged to apply.
The 119 sites throughout the county offer individualized teaching, nutritious meals, health screenings and a safe, stimulating environment.
Some sites also provide full-day, full-year childcare services for working families. Services for pregnant women or low-income families with infants or toddlers are offered through the Early Head Start program.
For more information, call 602-262-4040 for Phoenix locations, 480-464-9669 for those in the east Valley and 623-486-9868 for those in the west Valley.
Hazardous waste collections resume in September
There will be no household hazardous waste collection events in July or August. The collections will resume in September with an event set for 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 13 - 15 at Cesar Chavez Park, 7858 S. 35th Ave. For information, call 602-262-7251, send e-mail to pwserve@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/publicworks.