Avance Community Neighborhood Alliance - A Block Watch Organization

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

When young people have access to jobs and positive opportunities, it helps build confidence, responsibility, and stronger community connections—key factors in reducing crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe.

04/10/2026

The South Mountain WORKS Coalition is partnering with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to better understand what helps our community thrive—and where we can improve.

It takes only a few minutes to complete the 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Survey. Your input helps shape local priorities and resources so everyone in Maricopa County has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

04/04/2026

Mark your calendars! National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This annual event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Proper disposal helps prevent prescription drug misuse and protects our community and environment.

Why participate?
• Safely remove unwanted or expired medications from your home
• Reduce the risk of medication misuse
• Support a healthier, safer community

Please refer to the attached flyer to find your nearest take‑back location.

04/04/2026

The Mystery Castle has a new owner!

On behalf of Friends of Mystery Castle / Preserve Phoenix, I'm pleased to share that Harrell Family of Companies has purchased the Mystery Castle from the Mystery Castle Historical Foundation with a commitment to preserve Mystery Castle while creating a destination event venue that allows new generations of Phoenicians to experience this unique landmark.

The selection of this preservation-focused investor-real estate development team was the result of a thorough process of community input, an intensive exploration of preservation, development, and property management options, as well as the vetting of non-profit organizations and private investor-development teams for their aligned vision, financial capacity, successful track record of rehabilitation projects, and operational success to sustain the property for the long-term.

As a continuation of this community engagement process, we are hosting a Community Forum on Saturday May 2nd, 2026, 2-4pm at the South Mountain Community Library (see the attached flyer for more information). Erick Harrell of Harrell Family of Companies will present his plans to preserve the Mystery Castle and the phased development of the property, followed by a Q/A discussion. I recognize many of you have follow-up questions and I encourage you to bring them to the Community Forum, rather than responding to me directly, so you can engage directly with Erick and his team.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Kind regards, Brooks

R. Brooks Jeffery
Heritage Conservation Consultant
Professor Emeritus of Architecture, University of Arizona
(520) 240-7619

03/13/2026

Last two dates coming up March 21 and April 4.

03/07/2026

Safety Starts with Knowledge — Community Training Opportunity

One of the goals of Block Watch is helping neighbors keep each other safe. Sometimes that means watching out for suspicious activity. Other times, it means knowing how to respond when someone in our community is in crisis.

Our community partners at the South Mountain WORKS Coalition are offering a free in-person training series called “Love in Action: Community Harm Reduction Academy.”

This academy focuses on practical tools that help neighbors recognize and respond to situations involving substance use, overdose, and community health risks. Topics include:

• Harm Reduction & community healing
• Understanding stigma and systems of harm
• Building stronger community care
• Overdose prevention and Naloxone (Narcan) training

These are real skills that can help save lives and strengthen the safety of our neighborhoods.

March 11, March 18, March 25
12:00–2:00 PM
Wesley United Methodist Church – 750 E Southern Ave

You can attend one session or complete all three and receive a Community Harm Reduction Academy certification, with the opportunity to become a community trainer.

Block Watch works best when neighbors are informed, prepared, and connected. This training is another way we can build a safer South Mountain together.

🔗 Register here: bit.ly/4aFuH71

Please feel free to share with neighbors, friends, and community groups.

Love in Action is a community harm reduction academy centered on compassion, dignity, and collective care.  This academy is offered across three in-person sessions: Session Dates: March 11, March 18, and March 25 Time: 12:00–2:00 PM Location: Wesley United Methodist Church, South Mountain (At...

02/25/2026

From Phoenix Public City of Phoenix Public Works Department
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Dear Phoenix Solid Waste customers,

Recently, the Phoenix Public Works Department proposed to City Council an adjustment to the monthly residential solid waste rate. The proposed adjustment would be spread out over the course of the next three years, as shown in the charts below.
Since the last Council-approved rate adjustment made in 2020, vehicle costs have gone up by 52%, construction and maintenance costs for critical infrastructure have increased by 40%, and staff costs have risen 32%. Because the Solid Waste Division operates as an enterprise fund, it does not receive any money from the City’s taxpayer-funded General Fund. The majority (86%) of the revenue Solid Waste brings in comes from the monthly fee customers pay (currently $37.32) for residential solid waste services.

The proposed rate adjustments will ensure revenues keep pace with rising expenses, and allow Public Works to continue providing the current level of services our customers rely on.

We want to hear from you
In order to give customers a chance to provide feedback or to have questions answered, we will host several community info sessions over the next two months. Unless noted otherwise, these meetings will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available.

February 25, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Paradise Valley Community Center

March 3, 2026 (conducted in Spanish) 6:00 p.m.
Maryvale Community Center

March 4, 2026 6:00 p.m.
South Mountain Community Library

March 10, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Washington Activity Center

March 12, 2026 (conducted in Spanish) 6:00 p.m.
Desert West Community Center

March 16, 2026 (virtual only) 10:00 a.m.
Virtual meeting via Webex

March 17, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Encanto Park Clubhouse

March 19, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Beuf Community Center

March 25, 2026 6:00 p.m.
Deer Valley Community Center

To learn more about the proposed solid waste rate adjustment, visit phoenix.gov/swrate2026. There you can see a breakdown of what your monthly bill might look like in the future, along with important documents and financial data the Public Works Department has presented to City Council.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming community meetings, and we value your time and input to help us continue to provide essential solid waste services to our growing community.

Respectfully,
Solid Waste Division
Phoenix Public Works Department
602-262-6251
solid.waste@phoenix.gov