SE Valley Times

More than 45 staff and community volunteers participated in Tempe's summer Point-in-Time homeless street count this year, collecting data to guide services aimed at ending homelessness.

Tempe residents, businesses, and faith partners donated nearly 15,000 bottles of water during the "Breakfast with Berdetta" event hosted by Councilmember Berdetta Hodge. This set a record for the most water donated in a single community drive.

The event coincided with Greater Phoenix experiencing record heat levels. "I urge Tempeans to please consider the needs of those who are adversely affected by extreme heat," said Councilmember Hodge.

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff visited Tempe to discuss transit expansion, riding a section of the Tempe streetcar route alongside representatives from Valley Metro, City of Mesa, City of Chandler, City of Phoenix, and the Federal Transit Administration.

Registration is now open for boys and girls Youth Hoops basketball and NFL-sponsored Flag Football for students in grades K-8. The programs run from September through November.

Tempe schools will start their academic year on July 24. Information on before/after school care and other resources can be found at tempe.gov/BacktoSchool.

The city conducted its summer Point-in-Time homeless street count on July 17. Volunteers surveyed unsheltered individuals about their circumstances while distributing bottled water and resource cards.

Tempe Park Rangers have launched a flora and fauna project on iNaturalist to document local plant and animal life.

A virtual event titled "Buying Solar 101: A Homeowner’s Guide to Shopping for Solar with Success" will take place on July 30. It aims to educate residents about solar panel installation.

Zero Waste Day will occur on July 27 at the Tempe Fire Training Center, offering residents an opportunity to recycle items not permitted in regular garbage containers.

The City of Tempe Sustainability & Resilience Division has opened a survey for business owners regarding energy efficiency projects. The survey is available until August 16.

As part of its Age-Friendly Community initiative, Tempe offers support groups and educational resources through its Dementia Friendly Tempe program. The annual summit is scheduled for November 16.

Residents can follow various city departments on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. Current job openings include Engineering Associate, Fleet Equipment Mechanic, Green Building & Energy Conservation Specialist among others. Details are available at tempe.gov/jobs.

Upcoming events include Campus Countdown at the Tempe History Museum on July 23; Dinosaurs: An Adventure Through Time at the Tempe Public Library on July 27; Paint Nite at Dragon Tea on July 24; Hamilton performances through July 28 at ASU Gammage; Splish Splash Party at Tempe Marketplace on July 25; and the Community Survey running through July 31.