Filed under: Arizona, City of Mesa, City of Phoenix News, Mesa, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona | Tags: Mesa, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona
A popular and unique way to take City government directly to its
residents.
For the third straight year, the City of Mesa will be conducting “City Hall at the Mall” Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fiesta
Mall.
Several City of Mesa departments, including Transportation, Development and Sustainability, Neighborhood Services, Library, Water Resources and Energy Resources will have displays and information set up in Fiesta Mall’s Center Court.
Outside Fiesta Mall, Mesa Police, Mesa Fire and the Solid Waste Management Division will have displays in the south parking lot between Dillard’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The displays will include an emergency command van, crime prevention van, police cruiser, fire engine, ambulance and collection truck.
“This is a great opportunity for Mesa residents to learn more about the variety of services the City offers,” Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said.
“They can pick up information on everything from water and energy conservation to summer programs for kids to a list of upcoming events at the Mesa Arts Center and our City museums. This event has been popular the past two years at Fiesta Mall and I am confident this year’s City Hall at the Mall will be just as successful.”
Besides the City displays, representatives from Fiesta Mall will have a table in Center Court to discuss redevelopment news, including information about the new Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and In-N-Out Burger at the mall.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $200 Westcor gift card, as well as participate in a raffle for several prizes, including tickets from Arizona Diamondbacks, ASU, City museums and nearby restaurants.
For more information, contact Mesa Public Information and Communications Specialist Kevin Christopher at (480) 644-4699 or Fiesta Mall Assistant Marketing Manager Rachel Stevenson at (480) 833-5587.
Filed under: Arizona, City of Mesa, Community, Community Service, Maricopa County News, Mesa, State of Arizona, Tax, Taxes, Training, US - AZ (Phoenix), Volunteering, Volunteers | Tags: advice, EITC, Help, Income Tax, Income Tax Assistance, Mesa, Tax, Taxes, VITA, Volunteer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, Volunteers
Mesa VITA volunteers needed for training session
Source: VITA volunteers
Volunteer tax preparers are still needed in Mesa for a training session for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) that begins Saturday January 19 at A New Leaf (MesaCAN), 635 E. Broadway, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The only experience needed is the spirit of volunteerism! The IRS will provide free training and materials. Basic computer knowledge is a definite plus.
New volunteers will need 20 hours of training to prepare the basic 1040 tax returns and related schedules and know the eligibility rules for claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The other classes are scheduled for January 23, 30 and 31 from 6 p.m. to 9
p.m. Returning volunteer tax preparers need 10 hours of self-study. There is also a need for other volunteers with the VITA program, including greeters, screeners and translators. All volunteers must attend an orientation session Saturday January 26 at the City of Mesa Utility Building, 640 N. Mesa Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon.
VITA offers free tax help to hard working community members who cannot prepare their own tax returns. VITA tax sites will be open in February, March and April at four locations in Mesa: Mesa Community College, Southern and Dobson Campus, Student Union, 1833 W. Southern Ave.; Mesa Community College, Red Mountain Campus, Acacia Village Computer Lab, 2305 N. Power Road; A New Leaf (MesaCAN), 635 E. Broadway and Mercy Housing Villas de Merced, Club House, 520 N. Mesa Drive.
For more information, contact Mesa Human Services Specialist Lisa Wilson at 480-644-5831 or
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) information from CIR
Updated January 2, 2008
Return to Give Help VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a program that provides free tax preparation to benefit individuals with low to moderate income, senior citizens, Non-English speaking persons, and individuals with disabilities. Volunteers prepare basic tax returns at conveniently located community and neighborhood locations. Returns are filed electronically resulting in fast refunds. All training and materials are provided free from the IRS.
Local VITA Impact
In Arizona, millions of EITC dollars were not collected by eligible families. In one hour, you can help a moderate or low-income family collect an average of $1,871 (to a maximum of $4,700) for things like meeting basic needs, purchasing a house or buying a car through your local Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program!
Volunteers play a crucial role in EITC campaigns. Free tax preparation sites depend on volunteers and not only do they help working families get the credit(s) they deserve, but also save families the fee charged by professional tax preparers. Last year, volunteers returned more than $7 million impacting more than 10,000 hard working families.
Bill Austin
Scottsdale Job Network
AZhttp, Inc.
Filed under: Christmas, City of Mesa, Free, Holiday, Holidays, Mesa | Tags: Arizona, az, Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Disposal, Disposal, Drop-off Sites, Mesa, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona
Mesa residents can help the City of Mesa give the environment a present this
holiday season by recycling their Christmas trees. Residents are encouraged
to bring their tree to any of the free drop-off locations listed below.
Residents are asked to remove all nails, stands, tinsel and ornaments from
trees. Flocked trees will not be accepted because the flocking does not
break down in the environment.
The following 24-hour drop-off sites will be open Dec. 26-Jan. 13:
City of Mesa Solid Waste Management Department, 730 N. Mesa Dr.
East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St.
Superstition Springs Police/Fire Substation, 2430 S. Ellsworth Road
Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Road
Dobson Ranch Park, 2363 S. Dobson Road
Residents wishing to take their trees directly to the Salt River Landfill at
Gilbert Road and the Beeline Highway can do so between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday. Mesa residents will need to have a current Arizona
driver’s license. Curbside pickup also is available for $10 and must be
requested by Jan. 4. Residents should contact the Solid Waste Management
Department at (480) 644-2688 for more information or to schedule a pickup
time. Additional information may also be found by visiting the City’s Web
site at www.cityofmesa.org/waste.
Finally, Mesa also accepts donations of live potted trees, which will be
planted in Mesa City parks. Live trees five feet or taller will be accepted
at any Mesa Fire Station. The Christmas “Treecycling” program is sponsored
by the City of Mesa and the Salt River Landfill.
Filed under: Art, Artists, Arts, Arts and Entertainment, City of Glendale, City of Mesa, City of Phoenix, City of Tempe, City of Tempe News, Community, Community Service, Mesa, Phoenix Arizona, Tempe Arizona | Tags: Exhibition, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix Arizona, Post Office, Tempe
TEMPE, Ariz. – “Element,” an exhibition inspired by the extravagant holiday
window displays in Macy’s and other New York City department stores, will be
on display from Oct. 19-Jan. 31 at the United States Post Office, 500 S.
Mill Ave. (5th Street & Mill Avenue).
Artists Nicole Royse (Tempe), Jeff Falk (Phoenix), Adil Rahee (Mesa) and
Manny Burruel (Glendale) have prepared elaborate window displays that
celebrate one of the following elements: air, fire, earth and water.
Water
Royse earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Art History from Arizona State
University. She currently works on several research projects in the field of
art history.
Fire
Falk is a long-time active artist in Phoenix that has studied art at
Glendale Community College, Arizona State University and Phoenix College and
has shown his artwork in more than 200 exhibitions in venues across North
America.
Earth
Since moving to Arizona and becoming an American citizen, Rahee has shown at
the Arizona State University Art Museum, as well as at the January Solo
Exhibition at Shemer Art Center and Museum. He is currently earning his
Masters of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics at ASU.
Air
Burruel is a member of the Glendale Arts Commission and is a past member of
the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He was president of the Shemer Art
Center and Museum Associations Board of Directors and is a past vice
president and artist member of Movimiento Artistico del Rio Salado. His work
has been shown in countless exhibits throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan
area. His work has appeared in numerous publications, as well.
Information: Visit http://www.tempe.gov/arts/exhibitions/USPO.htm or call
Michelle Dock 480/350-2867.
Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Community Service, Education, Events, Family, Homeless, library, Mesa, Public Library | Tags: agencies, Assistance, Citizens, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Employment, Exhibition, Family Resource Center, Homeless Shelters, Mesa, Murderers, Murders, October, support
In Arizona, a woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend every four days.
In an effort to bring attention and awareness to this staggering problem,
the City of Mesa and Save the Family Foundation of Arizona have joined
forces to create a display at the Main Library, 64 E. First St., which will
run through the month of October. The display contains artwork and
stories from the mothers and children in Save the Family’s program.
Visitors to the display will learn to recognize domestic violence, see how
domestic violence victims are working to turn their lives around as well as
find out how they can volunteer and help be part of the solution. The
display coincides with October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Save the Family provides transitional housing and case management services
to more than 300 families a year. With 159 housing units serving homeless
families with children throughout the Valley, Save the Family is changing
the face of homelessness and helping many women and children of domestic
violence get a fresh start. Through programs like Career Development, Legal
Assistance and domestic violence and parenting classes, clients in Save the
Family’s program learn to become both economically and emotionally
self-sufficient.
For more information, contact Save the Family Volunteer Director Andrea Sok
at 480-898-0228, extension 215.
Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Mesa, Tax, Taxes, Volunteering, Volunteers | Tags: Mesa, tax returns, VITA, Volunteer, Volunteers
Volunteer tax preparers are needed in Mesa for the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program (VITA), which offers free tax help to hard working
community members who cannot prepare their own tax returns. During the last
tax season, the VITA program returned almost $1 million in federal tax
refunds directly to 934 households in Mesa.
New volunteer tax preparers are required to commit to a minimum of 2 to 4
hours per week. They will prepare the basic 1040 tax returns and related
schedules and know the eligibility rules for claiming the Earned Income Tax
Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). New volunteer preparers must
attend training in January.
There is also a need for other volunteers with the VITA program, includin= g
greeters, screeners and translators. All volunteers must attend an
orientation session.
VITA tax sites will be open in February, March and April on weekdays and
weekends throughout Mesa. They are generally located at community and
neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other
convenient locations. All locations also offer free electronic filing.
For more information, contact Mesa Neighborhood Services Volunteer
Coordinator Katie Brown at 480-644-3705 or
www.cityofmesa.org/volunteer/neighsvc
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona Technology, Awards, City of Mesa, Innovation, Mayor, Mesa, Technology | Tags: Award, Technical
Contact: Jessica Brodersen
Web Specialist
480.644.5035 Tel
jessica.brodersen@cityofmesa.org
Mesa was recently named as a finalist in the Best of the Web Awards for City Portals. In addition, the city won an honorable mention in the government internal category for the automated web application for PC cycle replacement.
The Best of the Web Award is a national program that recognizes the most innovative, user-friendly state and local government portals.
“We are extremely proud to have received this recognition from the Center for Digital Government not only this year but on numerous occasions in the past because it shows we are consistent with our efforts to increase our use of technology, which will improve the quality of life of our citizens,”
Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said. “The award recognizes the creativity, innovation and dedication of our employees who have truly made the City of Mesa tech savvy.”
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. For more information about the Center, and to view the list of all award winners, visit the Web site at http://www.centerdigitalgov.com.
Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Community Meeting, Entertainment, Events, Free, Mesa | Tags: City Council, Government Access
Mesa City Councilmember Scott Somers (District 6) will hold a pancake
breakfast for residents on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 8:00am to 10:00am at Fire
Station 212, located at 2430 S. Ellsworth Rd.
In addition to great food, the Councilman will be available to discuss
topics that are not only pertinent to District 6 but to the City of Mesa.
“These events are important because it gives residents an opportunity to
connect with their City,” Somers said. “It offers citizens a chance to be
heard and to give them input on the issues that affect them directly.”
Interested residents can contact Council Assistant Marquisha Griffin by
calling her at (480) 644-5295
What: District 6 Pancake Breakfast with Councilman Scott Somers
When: Saturday, October 6, 2007
8:00am -10:00am
Where: Fire Station 212
2430 S. Ellsworth Rd.
Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Community Meeting, Entertainment, Meeting, Mesa
City of Mesa utilities: connecting with our community since 1917
The City of Mesa has a reason to celebrate. The city has provided safe,
reliable natural gas and electric service to its customers for nearly a
decade – 90 years to be exact. In 1917, the City of Mesa acquired its
electric and natural gas systems from Dr. A.J. Chandler. In honor of this
milestone, Mesa utility customers are invited to join the Utilities
Department at a celebration on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Utilities Building, 640 N. Mesa Drive.
Come out and enjoy a food and a variety of activities and displays to learn
more about your utility provider. Activities include a demonstration of the
laser gas leak detector that can detect methane gas remotely, a natural gas
explosion chamber, an electric bike, which challenges you to generate
electricity with your legs, a spinning wheel that tests your knowledge of
Mesa’s utilities, and more. Learn how to read your natural gas and electric
meter, how to reset your breaker, what natural gas smells like, and how much
energy you can save by switching to compact fluorescent bulbs. There will
also be equipment on display, such as a gas sniffer truck, a backhoe, a
boom/digger truck, and more. The event offers something for everyone.
For more information about the event, call (480) 644-2265 or visit
The October 6 event also serves as the kick off for Public Gas and Public
Power Weeks, which run from Oct. 7 to 13.
Public Gas Week, an annual nationwide event sponsored by American Public Gas
Association (APGA), is intended to build awareness of the benefits of having
a community-owned natural gas distribution system. There are approximately
1,000 public gas systems nationwide. APGA advocates for these publicly owned
natural gas distribution systems.
“Mesa’s natural gas system continues to be a valuable community asset
controlled by our customers,” said Gerald Paulus, gas division director.
“We are committed not only to continue our legacy of quality service, but to
look for opportunities to improve operations and better serve the
community.”
Mesa is also celebrating Public Power Week (PPW) along with more than 2,000
other electric utilities that collectively provide electricity on a
not-for-profit basis to 44 million Americans. PPW is a national, annual
event sponsored in conjunction with the American Public Power Association
(APPA) in Washington, D.C. APPA is the service organization for community-
and state-owned electric utilities.
“The anniversary celebration and Public Power Week gives us a chance to
highlight the City’s role in effectively powering Mesa’s electric service
area,” said Marty Hunter, electric division director. “Our employees work
day and night to provide safe, reliable power, all at comparable rates, with
a focus on customer service and environmental stewardship.”
The City is proud of its heritage of providing safe, reliable natural gas
and electric service to our residents. For more information about the City
of Mesa Utilities Department and the many services it provides, please visit
www.cityofmesa.org/utilities. For more information about APGA or APPA, visit
www.apga.org or www.appanet.org respectively.
Facts about Mesa’s natural gas utility
. 52,000+ metered service lines.
. 90 square miles in Mesa city limits and 236 square miles in Pinal County .
1,088 miles of distribution lines . Four gate stations (where natural gas is
transported to Mesa’s distribution system)
Facts about Mesa’s electric utility
. 16,400 residential and commercial customers served . 5.5 square miles in
the heart of Mesa . 183 miles of overhead primary lines . 226 miles of
underground primary lines . 13 substations
Filed under: City of Mesa, Community, Community Service, Mesa | Tags: Recycling
Mesa residents encouraged to take advantage of Household Hazardous Waste
Collection events Mesa residents looking for a way to get rid of old cans of paint, batteries,
pesticides, or tires are invited to bring these and other household
hazardous waste materials to City sponsored collection events.
Our next event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the
East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur (east of Power Road, north of
University). There is no cost to take advantage of this service, but Mesa
residents are asked to show their most recent trash bill upon arrival.
Hazardous household waste will only be accepted during the event dates and
times and residents are asked to remain in their vehicles at all times while
at the collection site.
Waste should be sealed in its original container if possible, and unmarked
containers should be labeled if the contents are known.
Acceptable items:
Paint, polishes & varnishes
Pool chemicals
Turpentine
Adhesives
Antifreeze
Gasoline
Mercury
Electronics
Fuel additives
Paint-related materials
Aerosol cans
Motor oil
Appliances (limit 2)
Batteries
Pesticides
Transmission fluid
Fluorescent light bulbs
Automotive tires (limit 5); rims are accepted if the tire has been
removed
Industrial waste, 55-gallon drums and large truck tires will not be
accepted. Collected materials will be recycled, reused or disposed of in an
environmentally responsible manner. For more information, call the Mesa
Recycling Hotline at (480) 644-2222 or visit www.cityofmesa.org.
Phoenix Arizona 