Comings & Goings: Big Red Barn enrollment underway

Enrollment is now underway for Big Red Barn, Yuma's first farm-based preschool with a curriculum that fosters an appreciation for agriculture's contribution to society. Children will have the opportunity to interact directly with plants and live animals while learning the importance of caring for and conserving our world.

Big Red Barn is located at 2175 S. Arizona Ave., where the exterior of the property has been given a farm look with a “barn red” paint job and the placement of some farm equipment.

The preschool will accept children ages 2-5 and also will offer an after-school program for children up to 10 years old. It will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Classes will start Feb. 4. For more information, call 783-3815.

Co-owners Sandra Escalante and Suzette Reyes both have master's degrees in education and have experience in animal care.

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Building permits have been issued for a 14,000-square-foot multi-tenant medical building in Tuscany Plaza, 2851 S. Avenue B, No. 25, reported Alan Kircher, city of Yuma deputy building official. The building will be leased by Yuma Regional Medical Center to relocate the hospital's children health services clinic and for other medical services.

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Also, plans have been submitted for renovations to Taco Bell at 750 E. 32nd St., Kircher said the work will include both exterior and interior improvements.

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In other city of Yuma building activity, Kircher noted that schools and businesses continue to develop solar photovoltaic projects. The latest solar projects and their status include:

• Castle Dome Middle School, 2353 S. Otondo Drive; building permits issued.

• Crane Middle School, 4450 W. 32nd St.; plans submitted.

• Sam's Club, 1462 S. Pacific Ave.; plans submitted.

• Wal Mart, 2501 S. Avenue B; plans submitted.

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Jesse Gomez has sold Fortuna de Oro RV Resort, 13650 North Frontage Road. The resort is now under the umbrella of Cal-Am Properties, which owns and operates a number of RV and mobile home properties, including nine RV resorts in the Phoenix-Mesa area.

“We're thrilled to be in Yuma,” said Marc Franklin, manager of the company's RV resort division. “This is a phenomenal location.”

Franklin noted that the company already has made a number of improvements to the resort since taking it over in November. It has renovated both pools and spas, added a concert series that includes such performers as the Bellamy Brothers and is offering more crafts and sports. The company also brought in experienced managers Gregg and Valerie Wahl from Mesa and hired a full-time activities director.

The resort has 1,294-spaces, a nine-hole golf course and a restaurant that is open to the public. The resort can be reached at 342-5051.

The sale price was $22.7 million, according to the Yuma County Assessor's Office.

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Linda Stoffregen, who previously worked at Log Cabin Quilts teaching quilting classes and helping customers with fabric selection, has purchased the now closed quilting shop's longarm sewing machine. She is now offering edge-to-edge quilting with the longarm using pantographs. She also will be offering classes.

Stoffregen has more than 20 years experience piecing quilts and has taught various quilting techniques for seven years.

She can be reached at (928) 581-6221.

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In compiling the annual Christmas wish list of businesses Yumans would like to see come to town, several wondered if Chick-fil-A will ever get around to building the restaurant in Yuma that has been in the works for some time.

The company had purchased land for the restaurant and building permits for the project have been ready since late 2011.

A request for comment earlier this month from the company resulted in this email from Chick-fil-A spokesman Bernard Hendrix: “Thank you for your interest in Chick-fil-A! We are currently surveying the area but have nothing to report, as of today. Please feel free to check back with me later on in the year.”

Meanwhile, city officials say the project has been reactivated and anticipate construction to begin by late spring, based on communication they've had with the project manager.

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Julieanna's Patio Cafe, 1951 W. 25th St., is now offering dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays through May. For details, call 317-1961.

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Hairstylist Megan Austin is now working at The Tropix Spa, 1929 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 3. She can be reached at 373-8433.

Last week's column incorrectly reported where Austin had previously worked. Her previous experience includes Super Cuts and JC Penney Salon.

Sorry about the error.

Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasum.com or call Joyce Lobeck at 539-6853.