Oncology center now locally owned, in transition

Here's some good news for Yuma-area cancer patients. The former Arizona Oncology Associates is under new leadership with the goal of developing it into a community-based, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary cancer treatment facility so patients can get the best care without having to travel out of town.
 
The center, formerly owned by U.S. Oncology, has been purchased by Dr. J. Peter Sullivan, a medical oncologist, and Dr. W. Michael Shea, a radiation oncologist. Medical oncologist Dr. Carl Myers is also part of the practice.
 
The center, located at 1320 W. 24th St., has been renamed Sonoran Desert Oncology. As the first step, equipment is being upgraded so patients can get the best care here, said Ronda Finch, office manager.
 
In the coming months, services will be expanded to include naturopathic medical consultation, nutrition, lifestyle management, acupuncture and other holistic services in hopes of meeting all the needs of the center's patients, Finch said.
 
New patients are welcome and most insurance plans are accepted. For a consultation or referral, call 317-2518.

- Plans have been received for the second phase of Tuscany Plaza, the professional complex under development at Avenue B and 28th Street. The phase will have an additional 15 lots, said Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official.
 
A number of the lots in the first phase either have completed building or projects under construction.

- K 'n U Gifts and Imports expects to take its business online this week at knugiftsandimports.com, offering the same items sold at the store in the Big Curve Shopping Center. In addition, some exclusive items will be available only online.
 
The store is owned by Keith S. Fields and his wife, Un Suk Fields, and carries a variety of items, many of them with an Asian theme. The store can be reached at 726-3529.
 
The store also has expanded its line of Chinese, Tibetan and Korean home decor, such as wall and table decorations.

- The grand opening of the new Wellton Branch Library, 28790 San Jose Ave., will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments and displays. All are welcome.
 
The new library with 8,579 square feet is twice the size of old library. The new Wellton library is one of several library projects throughout Yuma County funded with a voter-approved bond election. For more information on the library projects, visit www.yumalibrary.org.

- It's brown bag time at the Assistance League of Yuma's thrift store, 1054 S. 4th Ave. Customers can purchase everything they can fit into a brown paper bag for $3 during the sale Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (the store will be closed Monday and Wednesday). Store hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; phone number is 782-9314.
 
The store will then close and be given a thorough cleaning, painting and restocking. It will reopen for business July 1 for summer hours only on Tuesdays through August.
 
The thrift store is run entirely by volunteers, with proceeds to benefit Operation School Bell and other community causes supported by the Assistance League.

- A construction project at Sandbar Storage, 2165 E. 16th St., has been completed. The project added 23 boat storage units 12 feet high by 10 feet wide with fire sprinklers. In addition, the parking facility has been redone with new configuration for easier parking, new asphalt and a total of 35 spaces for the storage of boats and recreational vehicles.
 
For more information, call 782-7757.

- Laurel Vorndam, licensed massage therapist, has joined the team at Acupuncture of Yuma, 710 W. 16th St. (328-1975). She offers a variety of massage techniques, including Swedish, deep tissue, hydrotherapy (heat or ice), reflexology and geriatric massage for those with special medical conditions or who are confined to a wheelchair.
 
Laurel is available on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays, and will be offering a special summer rate of just $45 for a one-hour massage. Gift cards are available. To book an appointment, call her at 446-5772.

- Pat Munger has been a contracting speech therapist with area schools for four years and has now opened an office in the 224 S. Main St. shops.
 
Certified as a Hanen project parent trainer, she will focus on coaching parents of children ages 2-5 in skills they can use to help their children develop their speech and language skills, an approach research has shown to be successful.
 
On the side, she is a Slumber Parties distributor.
 
In addition, she will make window space of her office available to home-based businesses to advertise at $20. "No commission, just an opportunity to have their information available 24-7 to walk-by patrons."
 
For any of her businesses, Munger can be reached at 783-5358.

- Farrah Gebhart has become a demonstrator for Uppercase Living. She offers hundreds of predesigned catalog expressions as well as the option to custom design any expression you would like for home, office, school, church or other location.
 
Whether you choose a favorite quote, meaningful saying passed down through the family, witty phrase or a single motivating word, Uppercase Living decorative lettering attaches easily to a wall to transform a room's atmosphere.
 
Gebhart can be reached at 314-1142 or by e-mail farrahgebhart@aol.com. Her Web site is www.uppercaseliving.com.

- "Just about any kind of produce" can be found at the newly opened Kodiac Produce, 1440 W. 8th St. The store offers fruits and vegetables fresh from local and regional growers, said Floyd Ford, manager. It's open to the public as well as wholesale buyers.
 
Hours are from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 5 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. The phone number is 343-2153.
 
The company has had a store in Phoenix for 18 years and now has branched out to Yuma.

- Potential homebuyers are invited to check out a new gated community, Sunset Terraces Townhomes, just above The Terraces west of Araby Road and 24th Street. The luxury subdivision is being developed by The Development Group by Elliott Homes.
 
The Spanish-style townhomes, now under construction, are available in four color palette selections and with lots of built-in custom features. A total of 113 units are available - early incentives offered for early buyers.
 
For more information, call 317-9701.

- Suzanne Grimes is applying her 30-plus years of design experience with the opening of Ta Da! boutique at 206 S. Madison Ave. She offers avant garde weddings and culture florals along with everlasting botanicals, "re-inspired treasures," eclectic and charming finds.
 
The boutique is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
 
Mondays and Tuesdays, she will go to people's homes to provide interior makeovers and custom and faux painting.
 
She can be reached at 446-3012.

- Log Cabin Quilts in the Big Curve Shopping Center is now open until 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Machine embroidery enthusiasts are invited to bring their machine, projects and ideas Monday evenings for an informal get-together. Thursday evenings will be "friends night out for anyone interested in getting together to sew among friends.
 
Free classes are offered from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays on fabric bowls and napkins. Watch The Sun for ads with other classes offered by Log Cabin Quilts.
 
For more information, stop by the shop at 136 W. 32nd St. or call 344-3800.

- Come and learn about Arbonne International's natural and botanically based products and business opportunities at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Round Table Pizza. For more information, call Rosie Miranda at 550-0581 or visit www.carabella.
myarbonne.com. 


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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at
jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.