Stuff to do in Yuma

Yuma Parks & Recreation Update, Jan. 19

Goings-On

Creative Playground reopening The Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground at West Wetlands Park will reopen following successful replacement of the playground surface and other improvements on Friday, Jan. 20, approximately 5 days earlier than expected.

Events Happening In A Park Near You Sunday, Jan. 22 Yuma Territory Live Steamers at Joe Henry Memorial Park noon to 4 p.m. will offer recreational train rides for children and families. Saturday, Jan. 28, a Bluegrass Festival takes place at West Wetlands Park 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 Remote Control Enthusiasts of Yuma will hold their winter short course truck race at Kiwanis Park.

Recreation Events

Intro to Archery Archery participants will be taught basic archery fundamentals and safety procedures. Test your skills and aim for the bull’s-eye. Registration is being taken at the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation office. For more information, please call David Luquin at 928-373-5000, ext. #5261. Dates: Saturday, Jan. 21 Time: 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Ages: 8 and up (Parent or guardian must stay with children under 16) Fee: $15; $10 with resident credit

Going Bayou on a Canoe A canoe trip on the Colorado River is just the way to start off the new year, so register today ($20 per person) for this opportunity taking place 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Gateway Park. The weather is great and the Colorado is amazingly beautiful. For more information call David Luquin at 928-373-5000, ext. #5261.

Senior Games under way – registration still open The 28th Annual City of Yuma Senior Games is under way now, though still open for registration if your favorite event has not taken place yet. Over 30 events are scheduled for persons 50 years of age and older to participate and compete in physical fitness opportunities and interact with peers. Come to compete or come for the camaraderie. Games will be held through Feb. 29. Registration fee of $10 includes the closing ceremony potluck luncheon and slide presentation; after the registration fee is paid, sign up for as many events as you choose at just $5 per event. T-shirts are included in the registration fee as long as supplies last. Brochures and registration information may be obtained at the Yuma Parks and Recreation Department or online at www.yumaaz.gov/parksandrec.

Arts and Craft Exhibit The Arts and Craft exhibit will highlight the many art programs offered by the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21-22, at the Yuma Readiness and Community Center, 24th Street and Araby Road. Wonderful displays of Silversmith Art, China Painting, Scratch Art, 3-D Art, Water Color, and more will be on display for your enjoyment. Fee: $2 daily fee, children and under 12 free. For more information, please call 928-373-5245.

Remaining 5K/10K runs and fun walks The City’s series of 5K/10K runs and fun walks has three remaining dates, but fees apply so register now at the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation office on the first floor of City Hall or online at www.yumaaz.gov/parksandrec . Registration can also be made over the phone at 928-373-5243. Deadline for early registration is 1 p.m. the Thursday prior to each of the listed races below. On-site registration closes 15 minutes before race start.

Remaining races: Great Yuma Road Race, Feb. 11, 2012, Start: 15th Street & 4th Avenue; finish at Gateway Park March-On City Finals, March 10, 2012, West Wetlands Parks

NFL Catch and Go Flag Football NFL Catch and Go is the most fun ages 5-14 will ever have playing sports. Come out and join this fast-paced league where everyone gets involved in the action. For more Information please contact Lonnie Brasby at 480-518-6237 or email: catchgoflagfootball@yahoo.com Early Registration: Through Jan. 26 Late Registration: Jan. 30 through Feb. 23 Dates: Saturdays, March through June Location: Ray Kroc Sports Complex Ages: 5-14 Fee: $65 (early); $80 (late)

Events Happening at Historic Yuma Theatre, Yuma Art Center, Yuma Civic Center, Desert Sun Stadium

Historic Yuma Theatre and Yuma Art Center events, 254 S. Main St. Friday, Jan. 20, Lonely Street Productions presents “The Blues: From A-Z,” an all new concert production created by Lonely Street Productions and Bad News Blues Bandleader Mike “Johnny Guitar” Blommer. The show will examine the origins of the blues from the cotton fields of the southern U.S. through the juke-joint days of the 30s and 40s, and then lead you into the era of electric blues when Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed ruled the airwaves. This show will feature the hottest blues you’ll ever hear in Arizona! Show starts at 7 p.m.; $23 assigned seating. Tuesday, Jan. 24, Canada’s new Country Gentleman Jack Jackson presents: “Pioneers and Legends.” This special performance isa tribute to the pioneers of country music following their induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The show honors pioneers such as Jimmy Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Bob Wills, the father of western swing music, Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, and the singing cowboy Gene Autry. The show starts at 7p.m.; tickets are $20 assigned seating, tickets at our ticket outlets and online at www.yumaaz.gov/events Saturday, Jan. 28, Encore Equity Lifestyle Properties presents: “Rock around the Clock.” Three original “Comets,” from musician Bill Haley’s 1952 group that helped start the Rock ‘N Roll Revolution, will perform hits from the golden days of the genre, including “Rock Around the Clock,” and “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.” The event starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 assigned seating, tickets at our ticket outlets and online at www.yumaaz.gov/events  In the Yuma Art Center: don’t miss the Yuma Fine Arts Centennial Exhibit opening featuring artist Ellen Wagener with “Arizona Landscapes,” in the North Gallery, and, “The Fruitful Yuma Valley,” exhibit in the South Gallery, and, the “Southwestern Invitational: 30 years,” exhibit in the Central and West Galleries. Opening reception for these exhibits at the Art Center is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. For more information call Yuma Fine Arts at 329-6607.

Purchase tickets at our ticket outlets, online at www.yumaaz.gov/events, or call 373-5202 (Art Center/Theater) or 373-5040 (Civic Center) for more information.

Take Pride In Yuma There were 35 cases of graffiti abated the period of Jan. 11-17. This compares with 96 cases the prior reporting period. Graffiti cleanup and vandalism currently costs the Yuma taxpayers over $200,000 per year. Please help us reduce vandalism by reporting incidences of crime to 78-Crime (782-7463) and graffiti to the Graffiti Busters hot line, 329-2828. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911.

Parks and Recreation This Week

Activities for the week of Jan. 11-17: 35 incidents of graffiti were responded to and abated 2,212 rounds of golf played at Desert Hills and Desert Hills Par 3 golf courses 1,650 meals were served at Desert Hills Bar & Grill 8 events held at the Yuma Civic Center with an attendance of 3,228 20 games played which is inclusive of all sports 4 events held at the Yuma Art Center with an attendance of 1,289 585 event tickets sold for Art Center and Civic Center 149 ramadas, parks, and fields were used 1,527 customer service transactions 32 programs offered by Parks and Recreation 2,417 people attended Parks and Recreation programs

City Of Yuma Road Report, Jan. 19

32nd Street reconstruction, Avenue A to west of Avenue B 32nd Street will experience another closure at its intersection with Avenue B, this time for pavement placement, from 10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, until 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Avenue B will remain open, restricted to one lane each direction. The hard closure of 32nd Street will begin just west of 21st Drive, and 32nd Street westbound traffic will be detoured via 21st Drive, after which they may resume westbound travel on 28th Street. After 32nd Street is reopened, the hard closure that is currently in place on 21st Drive will be reinstated. Additionally, there will be no eastbound traffic allowed onto 32nd Street off of Avenue B during this time frame. 32nd Street routine traffic remains primarily reduced to one lane each direction from just east of Avenue A to west of Avenue B with most left turns prohibited and speed limit reduced to 25 mph. Some left turns from Avenue B approaching 32nd Street may be restricted as well. In this 32nd Street project, a contractor working for the City is reconstructing the entire pavement and improving various intersections in this corridor. If all goes well the project will take roughly 6 months to complete.

16th Street, Avenue A to 14th Avenue With the right westbound lane of 16th Street between Avenue A and 14th Avenue needing to be blocked for private contractor work on the north side curb, the center turn lane is being used to maintain two lanes of through traffic in each direction for this section of 16th Street for the rest of this week and possibly part of next week. This will result in left turn restrictions at 13th Avenue and adjacent businesses. Business access can be made from 14th Avenue or via right turns from eastbound 16th Street.

Avenue C, 8th Street to 1st Street and Figueroa – Yuma County Yuma County is widening Avenue C from 8th Street to Figueroa Street and 1st Street. This will include placing a City Of Yuma water main down the middle of the road. Avenue C is now closed to through traffic between 8th Street and Riverside Drive; follow detour signs accordingly.

City of Yuma street maintenance

City street crews will conduct crack-seal maintenance the week of Jan. 23 in the following locations: 22nd Avenue from Colorado Street to its north end 23rd Avenue from 1st St to Colorado Street Az. Avenue from 32nd Street to 40th Street Gillaspie Place from Arizona Avenue to its eastern end at Burch Way

Additionally, crews will conduct grinding operations the week of Jan. 23 in the following locations: Pacific Avenue from 24th St to Gila Ridge Road 1st Avenue from 12th Street to 16th Street 1st Avenue from 9th Street to Orange Avenue 11th Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue 10th Streetfrom 3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue

Motorists are advised that road closures, lane restrictions and detours may be in effect in the course of this work. Normal traffic flow will resume as time and weather permits.

Main Street on Tuesdays Motorists are advised that Main Street will be closed between 2nd Street and 3rd Street on Tuesdays between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for the annual series of Farmer’s Market events scheduled to take place Dec. 6 through March 27, 2012.

Upcoming

4th Avenue side street utility crossings, 1st Street to 28th Street

This is a series of evening and overnight projects where crews will replace utility lines underneath 4th Avenue at various side street intersections south of 1st Street and north of Catalina Drive. As these lines go all the way across 4th Avenue, these individual projects will be conducted overnight, with specific points of 4th Avenue closed by approximately 7:30 p.m. each evening but reopening in time for morning commutes.

Work is now scheduled to begin Jan. 29 at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 26th Street.

Other 4th Avenue intersections that will be involved over the course of this project: -           2nd Street -           6th Street -           10th Street -           11th Street -           13th Street -           14th Street -           20th Street -           20th Place -           22nd Street (Also includes approximately 800 feet of 6″ pipe and 450 feet of 8″ pipe along 22nd Street from 3rd Avenue to 4th Avenue)

32nd Street manhole replacements between Pacific and 3E A contractor will be replacing manholes south of 32nd Street in the vicinity between Pacific Avenue and Avenue 3E. The majority of this work will take place off the roadway, so no major or lasting impacts to 32nd Street traffic are expected.

Silver Spur Rodeo Parade The Yuma Jaycees Silver Spur Rodeo Parade will take place Feb. 11 along the familiar route, 4th Avenue north of 16th Street to Orange Avenue, then Orange Avenue to 4th Street. 4th Avenue will be closed beginning as early as 8 a.m. that morning until approximately noon between 16th Street and 8th Street. Orange Avenue will be closed between 4th Avenue and 1st Avenue. Best detours for east-west traffic wishing to cross 4th Avenue during this time would be 24th Street or 32nd Street. While both 16th Street and Giss Parkway will remain open, be advised there may be delays near the starting and ending points of the parade.   Follow us, “Like” us…

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Yuma Fire Department Awarded Certificate for Ambulance Transport Health Director rejects law judge’s findings

Yuma, Ariz. – Following a long process that included delays and a negative finding by an administrative law judge, the Yuma Fire Department on Thursday was awarded a Certificate of Necessity to provide both advanced and basic life support services inside City boundaries from the final authority on the matter – Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble.

The certificate will permit YFD to provide both Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support services within the City’s physical boundaries, including unincorporated county islands. Humble’s ruling also establishes parameters for rates and response times. These parameters put in place for Yuma the “Tucson model,” which is “one of the best models in the state,” explained Fire Chief Jack McArthur, who had received a personal phone call from Humble earlier in the day regarding his findings. “We were optimistic throughout the whole process that we would achieve this outcome,” said City Administrator Greg Wilkinson. “We’re very happy for Yuma to be able to provide high-quality transport service. We have an excellent fire department – top-notch – and believe residents will notice the great job they do.” Humble’s ruling contrasted with the recommendations of an administrative law judge that were made public in December 2011. “Now, therefore, in that the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended decision of the appointed administrative law judge … are not supported by the greater weight of the credible evidence and are not consistent with applicable law, they are not legally correct, and they are hereby rejected,” Humble wrote. Throughout the process, the emphasis has always been about improving emergency medical services to Yuma residents, Wilkinson indicated. Those needing a rescue will benefit from YFD’s superior response times, and the motoring public will incur less risk from a reduction of “lights and sirens” vehicles responding to each incident, as duplicate responses by two different agencies will no longer be necessary. “We are cooperating fully with our new partners, Rural/Metro, who have been longtime ambulance providers in the city, to improve service and to reduce duplication and improve patient care,” McArthur said. Prior to receiving the certificate, Yuma was the largest city in Arizona that had only one ambulance provider. Somerton and San Luis in Yuma County also have more than one service provider.