AEA to begin major expansion soon

The AEA Federal Credit Union, 275 W. 17th Place, has submitted plans to the city for construction of a major expansion project, reported Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official.

The project will include a new two-story, 26,000-square-foot building on the west side, adding a second story to a portion of the existing building and filling in the atrium. An employee parking lot will be developed on property AEA acquired across the street to make up for the loss of parking with the new building.

The expansion will provide space for the growth of departments and back-office services to meet members' needs, Denise Sweet McGregor, executive vice president, said in an earlier column.

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In other city building activity, Kircher reported:

Plans also have been submitted for a 6,000-square-foot office and warehouse for Arizona Window Covering. The building will be located at 2947 S. Kish Ave. in the Curtis Industrial Park.

Plans have been approved for a new Del Taco at 32nd Street and Avenue 8E by the Foothills Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Also, plans have been approved for construction of a building for Pacific Plaza Shopping Center at 1335 S. Pacific Ave. (that also includes the former Britain Steel building), being developed by property owner Steve Linde. A tenant will be Jeanie's Party Supply, now at 601 E. 18th Place.

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A long-awaited day came for County Club Honda Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new showroom for the Honda dealership to be built at 1000 E. 32nd St. east of the existing building.

Plans call for a 40,140-square-foot building with a showroom and service department. The building will be constructed to provide parking for 130 to 150 cars on the roof, accessible by a ramp and internal elevator.

Construction is expected to start in the next couple of weeks and take about 10 months, said Lora Dana, co-owner with her husband, Brent. General contractor will be Gordon Mountjoy Associates, which built the new Ford showroom across the street.

Dana said getting to this point has taken about seven years. "We had outgrown our property a long time ago."

The existing buildings will be used to house the dealership's Dollar Rental Car and Sales business and Thrifty Auto.

In other activity, Dana said the dealership is phasing out its dealership of Suzuki vehicles to focus on Honda.

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Little green houses are showing up in front of Circle K stores around Yuma County. Formerly called the Snoopy Houses, the Enviro Green Collection Houses are being placed at various Circle Ks, where people can drop off donations of aluminum cans and some plastics as part of Habitat for Humanity's expansion of its recycling efforts.

The recycling benefits the environment and provides revenue for Habitat's house-building program.

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The Garage Motor Works, 1361 S. 3rd Ave., is now certified to install and service Smart Start ignition interlock systems used for monitoring drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence, said shop owner Gary Bowling.

Smart Start is an alcohol breath screening device connected to the engine's ignition system that prevents a vehicle from starting if it detects a blood alcohol concentration over a preset limit.

For more information, call the shop at 341-9495.

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Jayna's Floral Shop, 251 S. Main St., has reopened under new ownership and a new name. Sherial Magallanes has purchased the business from Jayna Armenta and has renamed the shop Ahh-Some Blossoms.

Magallanes, who works for the city, said she thought the shop would be a good retirement investment. Besides, her sister, Becky Babbs, was already working at the shop as a floral designer. Babbs, who has 23 years' experience in the floral business, will be the floral designer, shop manager and trainer for her sister.

Ahh-Some Blossoms is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. It offers a wide selection of flowers and gifts and will do weddings. Delivery is available. The shop can be reached at 782-5726 and is a member of FTD, Telfora and 1-800-Flowers for long-distance ordering.

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During the football season, Dine in Delivery will bring lunch to your door from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays for the convenience of hungry football fans - or anyone else wanting lunch from a favorite restaurant without leaving home.

The service, which delivers meals from various local restaurants to homes and businesses, also is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 4 to 9 p.m. daily for dinner.

Check out the Web site at DineInYuma.com for a list of restaurants with the service, ordering information and menu updates. The phone number is 345-2541.

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Onesource Distributors has moved out of its longtime warehouse location at the corner of 22nd Street and Factor Avenue into a smaller building across the street. That is temporary while the company's new building at 2780 E. Palo Verde St. is being constructed. The business expects to move into its new quarters in October.

The company is a wholesale supplier of electrical, electronic, industrial automation and plumbing products.

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Audrey Giles has started a new business, Audrey's Concierge Service, to help with all those time-consuming little chores like grocery shopping, picking up dry cleaning, organizing and cleaning closets and helping with pet care, to mention a few of the services offered.

The service is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, call 345-6764 or 261-7311.

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Laura Pasquinelli has started a new business as an adviser for Medifast Diet plan, a nutritionally balanced diet without pills, surgery or gimmicks.

She can be reached at 782-0378 or Nurslola@adlephia.net, or visit her Web site at http://Laurapasquinelli.

tsfl.com.

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The Barber Shop, 250 E. 24th St., is under new ownership. Jesus Medina, who goes by the name Jesse James, has purchased the business from Kris Toman. He has six years' experience in the hair-cutting business.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Walk-ins are welcome. The phone number is 539-0292.

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Donna Pettitt has opened E'lan Jolei' Medical Spa at 1801 W. 24th St., where customers can receive a variety of skin care procedures, eyelash extensions and laser hair removal performed with state-of-the-art equipment. Technicians have been trained under standards set by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency.

The spa is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and the phone number is 726-3134.

As part of her grand opening, Pettitt is offering 70 percent discounts on laser hair removal through Sept. 14. However, former Platinum Laserwork customers can either stop by the office or call anytime to receive their discount. They can pay either for single treatments as they go or for a package of treatments.

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Here's a little more information about the Value Place Hotel planned for north of Gila Ridge Road off Harley Drive (that's north of the LZ Bar and Grill just off Interstate 8).

The four-story extended stay hotel will be developed on 2.64 acres in a commercial subdivision being developed by D and M Holdings.

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A.T. Pancrazi Insurance Agency has been recognized as a charter agency by Encompass Insurance. Part of the Allstate group of companies, Encompass offers auto, homeowner and related insurance products through its network of independent agents.

The charter designation is the company's recognition of outstanding business achievement. A.T. Pancrazi Family Insurance was honored for excellence in premium production and profitability.

A.T. Pancrazi Insurance Agency is at 333 W. 8th St.

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Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.