Shred event & big changes to Thunderbird Park

It’s shaping up to be another active week around Arrowhead and the surrounding Glendale area, with everything from live music at the library to new restaurant openings and community-focused events. Whether you’re looking to explore local resources, try a new dining spot, or spend some time outdoors as improvements begin at Thunderbird Conservation Park, there’s plenty happening close to home.

In this edition:

Thanks for being here, have an amazing weekend.

Local favorite Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen is expanding with a new location near 39th Avenue & Happy Valley Road, bringing its popular gluten-free pizzas, pastas, and Italian-inspired dishes even closer to the Northwest Valley. Known for its health-conscious menu and allergy-friendly options, Picazzo’s continues to grow its footprint across the Valley with this latest addition. (link)

Construction is set to begin at Thunderbird Conservation Park, bringing a series of long-planned improvements to one of Glendale’s most popular outdoor spaces. The project is expected to include trail upgrades, enhanced parking areas, and improved amenities aimed at making the park more accessible and enjoyable for hikers, bikers, and families. Visitors should be prepared for temporary closures and detours as work gets underway. (link)

These improvements will mean there may be some closures during construction, but most trails will be open during this time. Be sure to check the website for more details.

Need to clean out some boxes of old papers? Have a drawer full of dead batteries? You’re in luck, as this Saturday, April 4th, you can get rid of both.

Hey Glendale! 👋 Got a pile of old documents or dead batteries taking up space? We've got you covered.
Come to the FREE Shred & Battery Recycling Event!
📅 Saturday, April 4, 2026
⏰ 7:00–9:00 AM (or until the trucks are full, so don't sleep in!)
📍 Foothills Library Parking Lot | 19055 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale, AZ
Here's what you can bring:
📦 Up to 5 boxes of paper documents for shredding
🔋 Rechargeable batteries under 2 lbs — Li-ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, sealed lead-acid, laptop/phone batteries, power tool batteries, vapes, and small electronics with built-in batteries
And the best part? You don't even have to get out of your car. Just pull up, drop off, and you're done! Open to Glendale residents only.
Can't make it this time? No worries — you can schedule a hazardous waste pickup or find a local drop-off at batterynetwork.org.
Big thanks to Vice Mayor Ray Malnar and Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff for making this happen! 🌵

Upcoming closures and restrictions

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) widening project.

You know the importance of sleep, but actually getting enough is easier said than done. One wellness brand decided to study the problem and whether CBD could help.

CBD users have long reported feeling calmer and sleeping better, whether taking the compound by itself or with related hemp-derived compounds like CBN and THC. But rumor isn’t research, so CBDistillery conducted two sleep studies: a 2021 study into CBD and CBN, and a 2023 study with technology app Releaf into CBD, CBN and THC.

Study participants who took CBD and CBN reported falling asleep easier and sleeping an hour longer per night, on average. Study participants who took THC as well as CBD and CBN reported improved quality of sleep and waking up more refreshed the next morning.

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Start Sleeping Better

[Glendale] Families in Glendale can connect with valuable local services at the upcoming Glendale Family Resource Fair, a free event on Saturday, April 4th, designed to bring together community organizations, support programs, and helpful resources all in one place. Attendees can explore services ranging from education and healthcare to housing and family support, making it a great opportunity to discover what’s available across the city. (link)

[Glendale] Enjoy a laid-back musical afternoon with the Phoenix Ukulele Group on Saturday, April 4th from 1:00–3:00 PM at the Foothills Library. Whether you play or just want to listen, this free community gathering is open to all skill levels and offers a fun, welcoming atmosphere. (link)

[Arrowhead] Tre Bicchieri is hosting Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 5th from 9am-3pm. (link)

Let's celebrate all times of the day Italian Style, champagne for brunch, martini's for Happy hour and wine for dinner. No matter the time of day, we hope to meet you soon!" Locally owned and operated with a chef driven scratch kitchen. Notable dishes include Eggs Benedict, Hash Brown Skillets and dinner entrees such as Risottos, and Chicken Parmigiana.

[Glendale] Glendale’s annual Family Bike Ride is rolling back through the streets of Glendale, offering a fun, all-ages way to get outside and stay active. The casual, community-focused ride is perfect for families and riders of all skill levels, with a safe, supported route and a great local turnout each year. The ride is being held on April 12th at 8am at Sahuaro Ranch Park. (link & map)

With several inner canyon trails beginning to reopen, it is a good time to look at the history behind the paths that take hikers from the rim all the way down to the Colorado River. Long before modern gear and switchbacks, these routes were shaped by Native American travel corridors, later expanded by miners, prospectors, and early tourism operators trying to make the canyon more accessible.

One of the most famous routes, the Bright Angel Trail, follows an ancient path used by the Havasupai people to reach water sources deep in the canyon. In the late 1800s, it was improved as a toll road, where early visitors actually had to pay to hike down. Imagine today’s trailhead with a ticket booth. It was not until the National Park Service took control that access became public and the trail was improved for safer travel.

At the bottom of the canyon sits one of the most unique lodging spots in the country, Phantom Ranch. Built in 1922 and designed by famed architect Mary Colter, the ranch was created as a remote retreat for adventurous travelers willing to hike or ride a mule nearly 10 miles into the canyon. Supplies had to be hauled in by mule train, and in many ways, that has not changed. To this day, Phantom Ranch remains one of the hardest reservations to secure in the National Park system.

The trails themselves were feats of engineering. Crews carved switchbacks into sheer canyon walls using hand tools, creating routes like South Kaibab and Bright Angel that are still in use today. These trails were not just for recreation. They were lifelines for moving people, mail, and supplies between the rim and the river.

Today, hiking these trails is often seen as a bucket list adventure, but every step follows a path shaped by centuries of human history. Whether you are planning a future hike or just watching the trail updates, it is worth remembering that the journey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is not just about the views. It is about walking through layers of history carved into the canyon itself.

Most homes on the water are shoehorned onto smaller lots, but this single level home in Sierra Verde has a .25 acre lot, which provides room for a four car garage & a large backyard overlooking the water.

See all the pics & info here.

Property listed by James Kuttner of RE/MAX Fine Properties

While you head north for cooler temperatures, your Phoenix home is facing 110 degree days, monsoon storms, AC strain, roof damage risks, plumbing leaks, and pest intrusion. Unoccupied homes in the summer are especially vulnerable.

Phoenix Home Watch provides professional visual inspections of your property, looking for obvious issues before they turn into costly repairs. We communicate with you in real time and serve as your trusted advocate while you are away.

Your home does not get a summer break. Neither do we.

Visit PhxHomeWatch.com or call (623) 226-8299 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

I started this feature in the Sun City Scoop newsletter and had a good response, so let’s have some fun with this here in Arrowhead as well.

These are our dogs, Vincent & Huxley, they are Chihuahua & Brussels Griffon mix. They are brothers from the same parents, but different litters. They are both sweet hearts, full of energy and some Chihuahua energy too. Vincent can be a bit of a bully at times, though. 🤣

If you’d like to have your pet be the ‘pet of the week’, reply to this email with a picture and some info about them. Thanks!

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