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Tempe has 13th highest foreclosure sales among major Metro Phoenix cities - November 2009

Tempe has 13th highest foreclosure sales among major Metro Phoenix cities for the month of November 2009. This chart is very updated and only reflects the sales from November 1st-13th, 2009.

In other words, this chart shows the number of bank owned properties sold in each city expressed as a percentage of TOTAL sales.

Leading the way in November is El Mirage with 51% of all sales being bank foreclosures. Just ahead of Tempe is the city of Surprise with 35% of sales being foreclosures.

Tempe and Queen Creek are tied for 13th position with 33% of all November sales being bank foreclosures. The lowest cities in Sun City West at 10% followed by Paradise Valley at 16%.

Metro Phoenix Foreclosure Report

Welcome Back the Trout at Tempe Town Lake

The City of Tempe is set to "Welcome Back the Trout" on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 from 3 - 5 pm at Tempe Town Lake Marina. Sponsored by the City of Tempe and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 3,200 rainbow trout will be stocked into Tempe Town Lake. This event is a great opportunity for anyone who likes to fish or anyone who likes to fish but does not have the equipment to come down to the lake. There will be a FREE fishing clinic with fishing poles and bait provided for everyone. Fishing licenses are not required. For more information the Trout at Tempe Town Lake call 480-350-8625.

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Tempe State of the City Address provides "Shop Tempe" resource - Nov 2009

Tempe State of the City Address provides "Shop Tempe" resource - Nov 2009

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman's State of the City Address this morning spelled out the details of Tempe's financial situation while also discussing ways to improve upon it.

Five Tempe residents were showcased as community leaders in efforts to improve our city through a series of short videos. Mayor Hallman gave nods to Walt Richardson for his longtime efforts working toward the resurgence of music in Tempe, Raillife.com's Nick Bastian for his promotion of real estate around the light rail line, Christina Cenzano and the Dave's Electric Brewpub team to highlight the experiences of new business owners, Pastor Sang Hoon Yoo for his role with For Our City, a group of faith leaders helping in the community and Lisa Roach, for her work on a neighborhood committee to renovate her local park.

The speech, given at The Buttes Resort, and videos are available online at www.tempe.gov/elected/hallman.htm -- click on Additional Links, State of the City 2009.

Mayor Hallman also called out www.tempe.gov/shoptempe as a resource for businesses to sign up for exposure through the city. Tempe-based businesses may provide a synopsis of their business and contact information for this website. Shoppers may use this directory as a means to find local shops near them. Also online will be a series of gift-giving ideas. The first list, Help Your Neighbor, focuses on Mom and Pop shops that people love. New lists will be added monthly. 

In his Tempe State of the City Address Mayor Hallman said, "It is by better networking, and further reducing your costs of doing business in Tempe that we hope to help you and your businesses flourish in Tempe. We all must help one another succeed. Just as Tempe cannot succeed unless its surrounding communities do, most of us will not succeed independently; we must all work together to improve the business climate in Tempe, in Arizona, in this nation and across the globe."

The Shop Tempe initiative is a step in that direction.

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Tempe crime prevention unit has moved

Here is a press release from the city of Tempe:

"The Crime Prevention Unit is no longer housed at 10 W Guadalupe Rd. The unit has de-centralized, meaning that we are located at 2 different stations. Mike Fleming and Cyndi Calender are located at the Apache Substation, 1855 E Apache Blvd. Julie Williams, Dan Brown, Brandon Eaden, and Andrew Rodriguez are located at the Hardy Substation, 8201 S Hardy Dr. The phone numbers are still the same and the Crime Prevention Officers/Specialists are still responsible for their same areas and expertise. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call and I'll be happy to direct you to the appropriate person.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,
Julie Williams
Tempe Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit
480-858-6333 Office
480-858-6339 Fax"

Tempe Recognized as Valley Leader for Bicycle Efforts

Tempe Recognized for Bicycle Efforts

The city of Tempe Transportation Program, Tempe in Motion, received an award Oct. 27 from the Clean Air Campaign for its comprehensive bicycle program . The Clean Air Awards recognize the best clean air and alternative transportation programs in Maricopa County. 

The city received the award for implementing an outstanding bicycle program by encouraging commuters to use bicycles as an alternative mode through improved facilities, educational programs and events. Annual bicycle events include the Tour de Tempe community bike ride, Bike to Work and School Day and the Bike-a-Palooza.

Tempe recently opened Bicycle Cellar, the first facility of its kind in Arizona to offer secure bicycle parking and related services to make cyclists’ lives easier. Services include repairs, equipment and accessory sales, bicycle advice and education, bicycle rentals and restrooms and changing rooms. Bicycle Cellar offers various membership plans, and members have access to the facility from 4 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

A city of Tempe employee, Oddvar Tveit, received the outstanding bicyclists commuter award from the Clean Air Campaign. Oddvar has ridden his bicycle to work everyday since June 2003 racking up more than 27,000 miles on his bike.  His dedication is paramount as he has made commuting by bicycle a staple of his life.

Tempe has approximately 170 miles of dedicated bikeways, including on-street bike lanes and off-street multi-use paths and is designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

For information, call (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim.

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Mortgage Loan Process

Professional chefs teach cooking classes at Tempe's Hackett House

Professional chefs teach cooking classes at Tempe's Hackett House

Hackett House in Tempe AZ, the charming building that was once Tempe’s first bakery and now serves as the headquarters for the Tempe Sister Cities organization, will offer an exciting array of cooking classes throughout the remainder of the year. As part of the “Cuisines of the World” program, professional guest chefs will teach participants how to create delectable appetizers, desserts and everything in between.

• Monday, Oct. 26: Louis Basile, owner of Wildfower Bread Company restaurants
• Monday, Nov. 9: Danka Shulz and Jacky Lelu from Beaulieu-ser-Mer, France, one of Tempe’s Sister Cities
• Monday, Nov. 16: Kathy Andrews, popular culinary expert
• Monday, Dec. 7: Michael O’Dowd, Executive Chef at Kai at Wild Horse Pass Resort

All classes are held at the Hackett House, 95 W. Fourth Street, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Cost is $45 per class, with the exception of the Nov. 9 class which is $65. Prepaid reservations are required and may be made by calling the Hackett House at 480-350-8181. A wine bar will be featured at the classes. For menus, visit www.hacketthouse.org.

About Louis Basile

The mastermind behind the wildly popular Wildfower Bread Company restaurants grew up in a big Italian family where “someone was always cooking.” Louis has many fond memories of family meals and learned the “goodness” at an early age.

About Danka Shulz and Jacky Lelu
Direct from Tempe’s French Sister City, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Danka and Jacky are the owners of Les Agaves, the choice restaurant of the area.

About Kathy Andrews
Kathy re-creates famous dishes from around the world for this class. Enjoy crab cakes from Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Veal Carolina from The Italian Grotto in Old Town Scottsdale and more.

About Michael O’Dowd

Michael knew at the age of 17 that food and “making edible memories” would play a major part in his life. He is now the Executive Chef at Kai at Wild Horse Pass Resort, the only Mobil 5 Star Restaurant in Arizona.

About Hackett House
In addition to Cuisines of the World, Hackett House holds fundraising special events, tea parties and children’s programs. All money raised through the Hackett House supports City of Tempe programs, as well as the award-winning Tempe Sister City Organization, which sponsors student, teacher, practical and professional exchange programs with Tempe’s eight international sister cities. For more information on the Tempe Sister City Organization, visit www.tempesistercity.org.

Tempe Lecture series -- Who's Your Neighbor -- Cultural Awareness

Who's Your Neighbor? A Brown Bag Luncheon

The City of Tempe Diversity Department is offering a program entitled “Who’s Your Neighbor?”-  A Brown Bag Lecture Series on Cultural Awareness.  This program is a series of presentations focused on learning about who lives, works, and plays in the Tempe community.  While individuals may know their own culture, traditions and lifestyles, some people may not know about or understand their neighbor’s cultures, traditions and lifestyles. The purpose of the lecture series is to create a greater understanding of each other in an effort to eliminate biases.

This program, which is presented in partnership with the City of Tempe Housing Division and the Valley of the Sun United Way, will take place on Wednesday, October 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Tempe City Council Chambers, 31 E. 5th Street, Garden Level.  Parking is available in the parking garage on 5th Street, east of the City Hall building.  Parking stubs will be validated at the program.

On any given night there are more than 8,500 homeless men, women and children living on Valley streets and in shelters.  The Faces of Homelessness presentation will focus on two to three of these individuals and their experiences.  Speakers will describe what their life was like before and during homelessness, what changed to end their homelessness and their hopes for the future.  The information shared will challenge preconceived notions and myths about people who are experiencing homelessness while raising awareness on this complex issue.

This program is offered free, and no registration is necessary.  Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch, and dessert will be provided.  For further information, call Ginny Belousek, Sr. Diversity Specialist, at 480/350-8979.

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Mill Avenue Farmers Market opens Sunday

Mill Avenue Farmers Market opens Sunday

Fresh fruits, mouthwatering organic vegetables, homemade bread from local bakeries. The Mill Avenue Farmers Market promises a delightful array of sensory treats.
 
This Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Sixth Street Plaza, the Mill Avenue Farmers Market will open for the first time. This is a soft opening, with the grand opening happening Nov. 14. The market will be open every Sunday through Mother's Day in May, depending on weather.
 
The market will include organic and conventional produce, sweets, breads, oils, herbal supplements, flowers, and small, Tempe-owned companies like Revolution Tea.
 
The Mill Avenue Farmers Market will have about 15- 20 booths this Sunday, with as many as 40 at high season. It is expected to draw hundreds of people weekly. This week, it is a watering station for Tour de Tempe. www.millavefarmersmarket.com
 
The Mill Avenue Farmers Market operator, James Neal has been working to bring this market to Tempe for more than a year. He introduced the concept at the light rail grand opening party, Destination: Tempe. Thousands enjoyed goods and services provided by vendors he organized especially for the event. He is also an owner of Chronic Taco and has been doing business in Tempe for two years.
 
This is the third market to open in Tempe in recent days. The Mill Avenue Farmers Market joins the Thursday night Market on Mill, at Seventh Street and Mill and the Tempe Farmer’s Market on Farmer Avenue and University.
 
Market on Mill is hosted by the Downtown Tempe Community and the Phoenix Permaculture Guild. Unlike a traditional farmers’ market that is food-and-produce-only, and unlike an art festival that brings out artists only, the Market on Mill features local growers alongside exclusively local artists and www.marketonmill.com
 
Tempe Farmer’s Market is a daily indoor farmers market featuring locally grown produce and specialty foods such as dairy, vegan/vegetarian, honey, cheese, hormone-free meats and more. www.tempefarmersmarket.com
 
For additional information on the Mill Avenue Farmers Market, please call James Neal at 480 464-4400 or Sheri Wakefield-Saenz at 480 350-8812 - City of Tempe Economic Development Division.
 

Tempe Public Library closed due to mercury spill

Tempe Public Library closed due to mercury spill

The Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road, is temporarily closed to allow for a cleanup effort after small amounts of mercury were found inside and outside the building today. The library is expected to reopen Friday at 9 a.m.

The city has contracted with an EPA-certified cleanup crew to remove the mercury. No library patrons or staff are believed to have been put at risk by the mercury, which is most dangerous only after prolonged exposures.

Tempe Police and Fire are conducting a joint investigation into who brought the mercury to the library.

After library closing Wednesday night, Fire responded to a call claiming that kids had been on site playing with mercury. The fire crew found trace amounts of the heavy metal outside the library entrance and cleaned it up.

Today at about 1 p.m. the library was closed after a patron noticed mercury near a library computer. About 200 patrons and staff were asked to leave the building. Since then, additional amounts of mercury were detected in the library parking lot.

The city’s cleanup contractor is working with Tempe Fire to complete an assessment to determine how much mercury is on site and what cleanup will entail.

Tempe expects the library to reopen Friday at 9 a.m. The city wants to undertake a thorough uninterrupted mercury cleanup in order to ensure the safety of library patrons and staff.

The city will provide updates on the Tempe Public Library as they become available.

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City of Tempe Boards and Commissions vacancies

City of Tempe Boards and Commissions vacancies

Tempe, Arizona — The City of Tempe is looking to fill the following vacancies on its volunteer Boards and Commissions:

• Tempe Aviation Commission: Four openings in January 2010. This commission advises the mayor and City Council and assists city departments on matters related to the impact of aircraft noise on Tempe residents; on the monitoring, implementation and enforcement of agreements made between the City of Phoenix and Tempe concerning the operations of Sky Harbor Airport; on studies conducted of Sky Harbor Airport and its impact on Tempe. Members serve for three years. The commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

• Building Code Advisory Board of Appeals: Openings for a building contractor, an architect and a fire protection consultant. This board interprets the provisions of the Building Code in special cases where the provisions may be inadequate and/or do not cover an issue in question and approves the use of alternate materials or construction methods. The board also recommends new regulations to the City Council and grants variances to the provisions of the Building Code. Members serve for three years. The board meets at least once every three months. Apply by Oct. 30.

• Board of Adjustment: Three openings in January 2010. This board hears appeals to denials of variances or approvals of abatements. The board consists of seven members and two alternates. Each member must be a Tempe resident. Alternate members serve at board meetings whenever one or more regular board member is unable to attend or must decline due to a conflict of interest. The terms are for three years and meetings are held as needed.