Cholla District Weekly Update

Dear Cholla Residents,

Midwestern University, which is located in the Cholla District at 5855 W. Utopia Road, is offering some worthy upcoming community programs free for youth in the community.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the College of Dental Medicine is holding a Give Kids a Smile event, providing free dental care and education to children ages 6 to 14 from 7 AM to 2 PM. Free dental care includes cleanings, sealants, fillings, or extractions. Services will be provided by appointment only, by dental students supervised by faculty dentists at the Midwestern University Dental Institute. For more information or to register, visit their web site.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Midwestern University hosts the annual Arizona Regional Brain Bee competition from 5 PM to 9 PM. High school students compete to test their knowledge of the brain with the winner receiving up to $2,500 reimbursement funds for expenses to attend the National Brain Bee competition at the University of California, Irvine on Saturday, Apr. 25. Registration closes on Feb. 7. 


Another unique opportunity for high school students is the Health Careers Institute. This free 5-day hands-on workshop takes place July 13-17, 2026, 8 AM to 4 PM. This is an educational opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to explore a variety of health professions over the summer. The application deadline is Apr. 1.

My office is always open and ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. I value your input and opinion.

Warm Regards,

Lauren Tolmachoff

Glendale City Council, Cholla District

623-930-2247

LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com

Last week, Glendale hosted our Annual Legislative Dinner. Mayor Weiers, Vice Mayor Malnar, and Councilmembers Leandro Baldenegro, Dianna Guzman, myself, and Bart Turner, and City Manager Patrick Banger hosted legislators from LDs 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 29. We are grateful to Senator Payne, Senator Ortiz, Representative Fink, Representative Rivero, Representative Abeytia, Representative Hernandez, Representative Kupper, and Representative Taylor for their participation. 

CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

Writer in Residence Workshop at Foothills Library: Thursday, Feb. 5, 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM

Presented by Writer-in-Residence Deborah J. Ledford. Refining the question to “What’s your book about?” is the key to keeping you engaged as you write, and later to hook agents, publishers, and readers with the perfect pitch. This is an active workshop where participants work to polish their crucial 24-word loglines. Open to writers of all genres and skill levels. Click here for more information.

Adult Craft - Watercolor Valentines at Foothills Library: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2 PM - 4 PM

This month crafters will use various watercolor techniques to make a valentine card for friends and loved ones. Space is limited and registration is required (opening on Feb. 3). Open to adults 18+. Click here for more information.

Tween Art-repreneurs - No-Sew Heart Pillows at Foothills Library: Thursday, Feb. 12, 6 PM - 7 PM

Celebrate Valentines Day by creating a cute heart shaped pillow! Pick out your felt, assemble your pillow, and finally decorate it to make it one of a kind. Space is limited and registration is required (opening on Feb. 5 at 10 AM). Open to Tweens, ages 9-11. Click here for more information.

District Board Vacancies: Municipal Property Corporation & Commission on Community & Culture

We are seeking a Cholla District resident to volunteer to serve on the Municipal Property Corporation and another resident volunteer to serve on the Commission on Community & Culture with the City. The Municipal Property Corporation meets on an as-needed basis. The Commission on Community & Culture meets at 6 PM on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit the web site, contact the City Clerk's office at (623) 930-2252, and apply online.

Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center

This full-service facility is located at 5600 W. Union Hills Drive within the Cholla District and provides educational, recreational, fitness, and social opportunities for the Glendale community. For gym, aerobics, and swim schedules, visit the web site.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC ALERTS

Cholla District Upcoming Pavement Work Scheduled - Click Here for the Map

• Streets between Union Hills Drive and Beardsley Road, and between 75th Avenue and the Loop 101 – Crack sealing is currently taking place to prepare for a Latex Modified Surface Seal (LMSS) application to begin in May.
• Lone Cactus Drive, just west of Arrowhead Loop Road and 61st Avenue, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road – Mill and overlay is currently taking place.
• Rose Garden Lane, Lone Cactus Drive and 61st Drive, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road - Mill and overlay is currently taking place.
• 59th Avenue, Bell Road to Union Hills Drive - Crack sealing begins February 9 to prepare for a Slurry Seal application in mid-April.
• 83rd Avenue, Bell Road to Union Hills Drive - Crack sealing begins February 16 during night hours to prepare for a Slurry Seal application during night hours in late April.
• Sack Drive and 64th Avenue on the northeast corner of Union Hills and 67th Avenue - Crack sealing to begin February 20 to prepare for a Slurry Seal application in Spring 2026.
• 51st Avenue between Beardsley and Tonopah - Crack sealing to take place in Mid-April to prepare for a Slurry Seal application during night hours in late April.
• Streets north of Beardsley Road to south of Thunderbird Conservation Park, between 59th Avenue and 67th Avenue (excluding streets recently resurfaced or currently scheduled for mill and overlay) – Due to cooler daytime temperatures setting in, the remainder of the slurry seal application has been postponed to March when warmer weather returns.

Loop 101 Current and Upcoming Closures & Restrictions

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 widening project:

Upcoming Restrictions & Closures:

• ADOT is adding a third left turn lane on southbound 75th Avenue to enter eastbound Loop 101, which will add capacity and improve traffic at the interchange. Work is scheduled to begin at 11:30 PM, Sunday, Feb. 1 and will remain through mid-April:
• 75th Avenue will be narrowed to one lane in each direction between Loop 101 and Rose Garden Lane to allow for median work to take place.
• Some left turns will be restricted along 75th Avenue, and sidewalks may be closed intermittently.
• Drivers may consider using 67th or 83rd Avenues to access 75th Avenue via Deer Valley Road or Union Hills Drive.
• 31st Avenue is scheduled to be closed in both directions at Loop 101 nightly from 9 PM to 5 AM, Tuesday, Feb. 3, until Friday morning, Feb. 6.

Long Term Ramp Closures:

• The eastbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 75th Avenue is closed for approximately 60 days from Jan. 5.
• DETOUR: Drivers may consider using the frontage road (Beardsley) or Union Hills Drive to 59th Avenue to access eastbound Loop 101.
• The eastbound Loop 101 off ramp at 67th Avenue is closed for approximately 60 days from Jan. 12.
• DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting at 75th Avenue and taking the frontage road (Beardsley) to 67th Avenue or exiting at 59th Avenue.
• The eastbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 51st is closed for approximately 60 days from Jan. 19.
• DETOUR: Drivers may consider using the eastbound frontage road to access Loop 101 at 35th Avenue or using eastbound on-ramp at 59th Avenue.
• The eastbound off-ramp at 35th Avenue is closed for approximately 60 days from Jan. 26.
• DETOUR: Eastbound drivers may consider exiting at 51st or 27th Avenues.

Ongoing Lane Restrictions:

• The eastbound frontage road (Beardsley) is reduced to one lane between 37th and 35th Avenues through mid-April.
• The westbound frontage road (Beardsley) will continue to be reduced to one lane between 35th and 51st Avenues through 5 AM, Sat. Feb. 15.

Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.

CITYWIDE HIGHLIGHTS & CALENDAR

PUBLIC NOTICE: The City of Glendale is seeking public comment on proposed changes to its Public Housing Authority 2026 Annual PHA Plan and 2026-2030 Capital Fund Plan (CFP). The Public Comment Period begins on February 2, 2026, and ends on March 19, 2026. Click here for the full notice details.

Watch Council Meetings Live on the City's Facebook, YouTube, or on Glendale Channel 11.