Stuff to do in Yuma

Yuma Parks & Recreation Update, Jan. 5   Events Happening at a Park   Creative Playground – upcoming closure Parkgoers and fans of the volunteer-built Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground at West Wetlands Park should take advantage of the facility for the next couple weeks. The park will close Jan. 9 (after the kids’ school break is over) so workers can replace the playground surface. Adhesive material used in the initial installation of the Pebble Flex surface was not conducive to our hot, dry air, so this repair will be made under warranty. There will be some painting and spruce-up occurring by the Parks, Arts, and Recreation team in the next couple weeks before the surfacing is replaced. The Creative Playground will reopen approximately Jan. 25. The other playground at West Wetlands Park will remain open, as will all other areas of the park.   Recreation Events   Senior Games Registration is under way The Join us for the 28th Annual City of Yuma Senior Games! 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. Registration is under way now; games will be held from Jan. 10 through Feb. 29. Registration fee of $10 includes the opening ceremony, novelty events to compete in and 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.     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: New Years Resolution, Jan. 7, 2012, West Wetlands Parks 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   Arts and Craft Exhibit The Arts and Craft exhibit will highlight the many art programs which are offered by the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department. Wonderful displays of Silversmith Art, China Painting, Scratch Art, 3-D Art, Water Color, and more will be on display for your enjoyment. For more information, please call 928-373-5245. Date: January 21 and 22 Days: Saturday and Sunday Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday / 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday Location: Yuma Readiness and Community Center Fee: $2.00 daily fee, children under 12 Free   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 January 26, 2012 Late Registration: January 30 through February 23, 2012 Dates: Saturdays, March through June Location: Ray KROC Sports Complex Combine Date: March 19th (all players must attend combine) Combine Time: 2 pm to 5 pm Ages: 5 – 14 Fee: $65.00 (Early); $80.00 (Late)     Youth and Junior Tennis Instruction This is a five-week basic tennis instruction course. Youths will be taught ground strokes, volleys, serves, overheads, footwork, sportsmanship and proper tennis etiquette. Registration is being taken at the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, please call Oscar Chavez at 928-373-5234. Dates: January 9 through February 8, 2012 (10 Sessions) Days: Mondays and Wednesdays Time: 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm Youth Age: 7-10 Junior Age: 11-13 Fee: $42; $35 with resident credit     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 Department. For more information, please call David Luquin at 928-373-5000, ext. #5261. Dates: Saturday, January 21, 2012 Time: 8:00 am to 9:30 am or 10:00 am to 11:30 am Age: 8 and Up (Parent or guardian must stay with children under 16) Fee: $15.00; $10.00 with resident credit   7th Annual Woodcarving Expo Jan. 14-15, 2012 The Woodcarving Expo draws thousands of visitors to see the extraordinary talents of area woodcarvers and dozens of local, regional, national and international carvers. The Woodcarving Expo takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 at the Yuma Readiness and Community Center, 6550 E. 24th St. Admission is just $2 at the door and includes a raffle. Children 12 and under are admitted free.       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. • Sunday, January 8, Encore Equity Lifestyle Properties presents: “Remembering the Ladies!” British singer-entertainer Toni Morrell pays homage to the legendary ladies of show business, not through impersonations, but by weaving an artistic tapestry of song, comedy, and anecdotes delivered in her own memorable style. This nostalgic, heartwarming, feel good performance is a musical treat reminiscent of such stars as Marlene Dietrich, Liza Minnelli, Bette Davis, Lena Horne, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and many more. The show starts at 7:00 pm – $20.00 assigned seating, purchase tickets at our ticket outlets and online www.yumaaz.gov/events. • Thursday, January 12, Thursdays at the Theatre – A Film Series by the AWC Foundation presents: “The Piano in the Factory.” Synopsis – When Chen’s estranged wife reappears asking for a divorce and custody of their daughter, the musician girl decides she will live with whoever can provide her with a piano. Chen’s struggle thus begins. When efforts to borrow money and even steal a piano fail, Chen concocts a preposterous plan – he’ll make a piano from scratch! He persuades a bunch of reluctant, but loyal, misfit friends to help him forge the instrument in a derelict factory from a heap of scrap steel. Though crude in design and tune, the factory piano awaits its first and final performance from his little girl. The show starts at: 7:00 pm; $5 at the door, AWC/NAU students $2.50 w/valid ID.China / 2010 / Drama /Mandarin w/ English subtitles / 100 min. Purchase tickets at our ticket outlets, online at www.yumaaz.gov/events, or call 373-5040 for more information.     Take Pride In Yuma There were 34 cases of graffiti abated the period of Dec. 28 through Jan. 4. This compares with 59 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.

City Of Yuma Road Report, Jan. 5   • 32nd Street, Avenue A to west of Avenue B • Avenue D and 28th Street • 24th Street, Arizona Ave. to Pacific Ave. – Century Link • Avenue C, 8th Street to 1st Street -Yuma County • City Street Maintenance • Main Street, Tuesdays   32nd Street reconstruction, Avenue A to west of Avenue B Work is under way on the 32nd Street reconstruction project from just east of Avenue A to west of Avenue B. Traffic will be reduced to one lane each direction on 32nd Street 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. Additionally, 32nd Street will be closed west of the Avenue B intersection and east of 28th Drive. Motorists wishing to travel this section of 32nd Street will be detoured to 28th Street or 40th Street and then west to Avenue C.   Possibly in the next week, the contractor will need to close 32nd Street in both directions, with narrow two-way traffic permitted on Avenue B at that intersection. The City will issue a separate statement when the date(s) for this work are confirmed.   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.     Avenue D; 28th Street Closures have been lifted in the vicinity of 28th Street and Avenue D. Some crews may remain in the area; please drive courteously around them.     24th Street, Arizona Avenue to Pacific Avenue – Century Link Century Link has a 5-day project scheduled on eastbound 24th Street between Arizona Avenue and Donna Avenue, just west of Pacific Avenue. The right lane will be closed in sections as they move manhole to manhole. Project is expected to conclude by Jan. 18.     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. 9 in the following locations: • Whites Subdivision, 11th Street from Avenue A to 4th Avenue; 10th Street from Avenue A to 4th Avenue; 9th Street from Avenue A to 4th Avenue. • Lynwood Estates 1 & 2 • Citrus Springs subdivision 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 A series of overnight projects is planned to begin Jan. 16, when crews will begin to replace utility lines underneath 4th Avenue at various side street intersections south of 1st Street and north of Catalina Drive. As these lines cross 4th Avenue these individual projects will be conducted overnight, with specific points of 4th Avenue closed late evening and reopening in time for morning drive time.   Follow us, “Like” us… News is always available at our website, www.yumaaz.gov, but if you are more likely to be found on Facebook or Twitter, you can meet up with us there, too. Like us on Facebook, “City of Yuma, Arizona,” or follow us on Twitter, @cityofyuma.

Approaching 100, Historic Theatre Asks You to Take a Seat   Chairs may be adopted for special price through Feb. 15 Yuma, Ariz. – In celebration of the Historic Yuma Theatre’s 100th Anniversary, the public is invited to take a seat.   Or more succinctly, the public is invited to “Take A Seat for the Centennial.” This unique adopt-a-chair project is an opportunity to invest in the legacy of artistic excellence that entertains, educates, and enlightens thousands of adults and children each year.   Chairs in the “Take A Seat for the Centennial” project are offered at a very special centennial price of $100 now through Feb.15, 2012. After that, the chair adoptions return to their old price of $200 each. Contributions are tax-deductible and the chair(s) of choice will be identified with an inscribed dedication plate. Contributors will also receive a certificate of participation and an invitation to the Historic Yuma Theatre’s Birthday Bash on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012.   To “Take A Seat for the Centennial” please drop by the Yuma Art Center at 254 S. Main St. in Yuma, or call 928-373-5202. You can download a “Take A Seat for the Centennial” pledge card by going to the City of Yuma website www.YumaAZ.Gov. Once complete, please mail or deliver the pledge card, with your payment, to the Yuma Art Center.   All monies raised through the “Take A Seat for the Centennial” project benefit the Historic Yuma Theatre.   The Yuma Art Center and the Historic Yuma Theatre are owned and operated by the City of Yuma. For additional information contact Rex Ijams at 373-5235 or rex.ijams@yumaaz.gov.

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Creative Playground to Close for Repair

Surface replacement to begin Jan. 9

Yuma, Ariz. – The Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground will close Monday, Jan. 9, for more than two weeks for repair to the playground surface and other maintenance.

Visitors to the popular volunteer-built playground, located in the West Wetlands Park, 282 N. 12th Ave., will notice some work being done now. This should not affect current playground operations or access.

The Jan. 9 closure date is timed to follow the reopening of local public schools following winter break.

Adhesive material used in the initial installation of the Pebble Flex surface was not conducive to Yuma’s hot, dry air, so surface repair will be made under warranty. Parks staff will take advantage of the opportunity to conduct other cleaning and maintenance as well.

The Creative Playground is expected to reopen approximately Jan. 25. The other playground at West Wetlands Park will remain open, as will all other areas of the park. Other City parks near this area that also have playground features that will remain open during this time include Gateway Park, 1st Street and Gila Street; Carver Park, 5th Street and 13th Avenue; and Joe Henry Memorial Park, 23rd Avenue and Colorado Street.

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You can now follow the City of Yuma and receive the latest information from your Twitter account.  The City’s Twitter address is www.twitter.com/cityofyuma. Facebook users are invited to “like” our page, City of Yuma, Arizona.