Have you resolved to take pride in your community this year?

Arizona’s cities and towns work 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to provide services to their citizens. Take pride in all your city does – from maintaining parks, to delivering opportunities at your local library and keeping the streets clean and safe.

A couple of Arizona’s towns are starting off the New Year with celebrations to help enhance your sense of municipal pride!

The Town of Queen Creek has been celebrating their 25th Anniversary all year and will culminate the year-long festivities with a time capsule burying early in 2015.

The 25th anniversary capsule will be buried at Queen Creek’s Founders’ Park at 9 a.m. on Jan. 6. The time capsule contains items that symbolize life in Queen Creek in 2014, including letters and mementos showing what makes Queen Creek special. It is scheduled to be opened by the residents of Queen Creek in 2064, during the Town’s 75th year of incorporation.

The Town of Gilbert started their #GrowingUpGilbert campaign in 2014. This campaign features individuals who were born and raised in the town of Gilbert and grew up to give back to their community. Check out some of the Gilbertonians who have been featured thus far.

If you grew up in Gilbert, AZ and have a story of your own, share it! You can e-mail your story to gilbert.digital@gilbertaz.gov or share it on social media using #GrowingUpGilbert.

How will you resolve to take pride in your community in 2015? Let us know what your resolutions are and how you plan to achieve them this year!

It’s time to ring in 2015! As we bid farewell to an amazing 2014 year, we’re looking ahead to 2015 with possibility on our minds.

Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions yet? If not, we’ve got 10 resolutions right here for you. From getting outdoors to learning something new, Arizona’s cities and towns have a variety of opportunities to help you experience the possibilities in this New Year.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” This year, our plan is to stick to our resolutions. Join us! Each day we’ll feature a new way to accomplish – and stick with – those resolutions this year.

2015 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Get Outdoors

2. Learn Something New

3. Get Involved

4. Stay Fit

5. Have a New Experience

6. Celebrate our Great State

7. Build a Better Hobby

8. Save the Environment

9. Spend Time With Loved Ones

10. Take Pride in Your Community

Mia Amundsen’s rise to football fame pretty much began with the Goodyear Parks and Recreation Department – and a lot of dedication.

The Goodyear girl, who is a fourth grader at Palm Valley Elementary School, ended the National Football League’s prestigious Punt, Pass and Kick competition by finishing first to win a state championship.

She scored 129.5 points, the best in the girls’ 8-9 year-old division in a portion of the football program’s state championships held on the field of University of Phoenix Stadium during the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Punt, Pass and Kick Program has been recognized by the NFL for more than 50 years. The free competition gives boys and girls ages six through 15 the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in punting, passing and place kicking.  Each participant is given one punt, one pass and one kick to accumulate a score.  Scores are received and calculated with distance and accuracy providing the final scoring distance.

Mia, who is the daughter of Ty and Diane Amundsen, advanced to the state competition after placing first in the Punt, Kick and Pass sectional competition at Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale on Nov. 1.

Although there was no guarantee Mia would advance to the state finals as there are other state competitions held throughout the state and the top four scores overall advance, her parents later received word via email that she advanced to the state finals. Her age group included more than 100 kids throughout the state.

For her state championship, Mia was shown on the Jumbo-Tron video screen and awarded a football for a trophy during the third quarter of the Cardinals’ game.

Mia also plays volleyball, basketball and softball, and also is a member of her school’s chorus.

Her mother said that she became interested in the program when it was held at her school in September.

“She just thought it would be fun to give it a try for the fun of it,” Diane Amundsen. “This was her second year of participating in the program. She’s a busy one.”

Competitors begin competing at the local level with high scores advancing to a sectional competition.  Goodyear’s local competition was offered by the Parks and Recreation Department and held at Goodyear Ballpark on Sept. 30.  The four top scores from the five sectionals in each age division for both boy’s and girl’s advance to the state competition held at the University of Phoenix Stadium prior to an Arizona Cardinals game.

All NFL teams host a state competition with the four highest scores in each age division advancing on to the National Competition usually held prior to an NFL playoff game (city yet to be determined).  During each competition participants begin with a new score of zero.

Are you someone who spent their childhood #GrowingUpGilbert?

The Town of Gilbert, AZ recently released a campaign  highlighting the great things that those who grew up or are growing up in Gilbert are doing for the community.

The campaign explores the unique stories of residents who were born and raised here, and grew up to give back to their community.Check out those Gilbertonians who have been featured thus far: 

David Tirado

Dana Berchman

Emery Miller

Councilmember Ben Cooper

Share your “Growing Up Gilbert” story by using #GrowingUpGilbert on social media or by emailing Gilbert.Digital@gilbertaz.gov.

“Growing Up Gilbert” is a sneak peek into the theme of the 2015 Digital State of the Town, which will preimiere in February.

Follow @GilbertYourTown on Twitter or Gilbert Town Hall on Facebook as new “Growing up Gilbert” stories are released!

“City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style, as the shoppers rush home with their treasures…” 

It’s the holiday season and that can only mean one thing – shopping season is in full swing. If you’ve got that one final gift to purchase or are just getting started on your shopping spree, Arizona’s cities and towns have a few tips and tricks to help make this season successful!

When you’re picking out presents for loved ones, keep your community in mind!  When you shop at local retailers, you keep $73 in the community for every $100 spent. That’s $50 more kept in the local economy than when you shop at a non-locally owned business (According to Local First AZ).

Many cities and towns in Arizona are celebrating their local businesses through a variety of campaigns. Town of Oro Valley and the Town of Queen Creek are encouraging residents to shop local.  Oro Valley local shoppers can submit receipts to be entered into a raffle and consumers  in Queen Creek can win prizes for shopping local by Instramming or Tweeting their retail excursion and using the hashtag #ShopQC.

In addition to keeping your dollars in the local economy, it’s also important to keep safe during this holiday shopping season.

The City of Goodyear reminds everyone of a few quick tips to maintain your safety while wandering the stores:

• Lock car doors and roll up windows
• Park in well lighted areas at night
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle
• Lock home doors and windows at night or when leaving
• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings, walk with a sense of purpose
• Carry your purse firmly and close to your body or better yet leave it at home and only carry what you need in your pocket – such as a small amount of money, keys, and maybe one credit card.
• Have your car or house key in your hand as you approach the door.
• Follow your “gut instinct.” Don’t put yourself in an uncomfortable situation
• Use the buddy system, especially if out at night
• Use well lit and well-traveled streets and walkways

Happy Holidays!