First phase of Arizona Welcome Center to move forward

  Plans are moving forward on the Arizona Welcome Center north of 1st Street between 4th and 5th Avenue.

  Because of state budget cutbacks, the project isn't totally funded but the Legislature did appropriate $1 million to begin work on the first phase, which will include preparation of the site so when more funding becomes available, construction of the center can proceed, said Charles Flynn, head of the city's riverfront redevelopment effort.

  When completed, the approximately 5,000-square-foot building will serve as a new gateway to the city of Yuma and to the state, he said.

  Currently, plans for the first phase are under review by city of Yuma building officials.

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  In other city development activity, Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official, reported:

  • A stocking permit has been issued for Burlington Coat Factory, which is opening a store in the former JCPenney building at Southgate Mall. However, at press time, there was no word on an opening date for the retailer.

  • Construction has been completed on the new office - a very nice-looking masonry building - for Haxton Masonry, 7138 E. 29th St. at Yuma Commerce Center, and the administration side of the business has moved in. The business has the same phone number of 726-2802.

  • The city has received plans for a new 6,000-square-foot office for Lux Air Jet Center at 3885 S. Poco Ave. on the west side of Yuma International Airport.

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  Nature's Express, Yuma's healthier fast-food restaurant at 2905 S. 4th Ave., is opening a second restaurant in San Diego at 2949 5th Ave. near Balboa Park. Plans are to open the San Diego restaurant by Oct. 15.

  Dr. Carl Myers, owner of Nature's Express Yuma and co-owner of the new restaurant in San Diego, said out-of-town customers often complain they don't have anything that good back home.

  "This comment has been made by travelers from San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Denver and San Francisco," he said. "From the response we have already had in San Diego, we expect this expansion site to do well."

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  William Michaels has opened a new business, Skills 4 Life, to provide occupational therapy services for the treatment of childhood disorders and syndromes where sensory integration impairment, fine motor development and developmental delays are present.

  This may include autistic spectrum such as Asperger syndrome, Down syndrome, developmental delays, Williams syndrome, Rett syndrome and other conditions.

  Michaels is located at 1185 S. 4th Ave., Suite K, and can be reached at 503-3916 or Skills4lifeotr@aol.com.

  An occupational therapist, Michaels received a bachelor's degree in 2002 and master's degree in 2003 from The Sage Colleges in Albany, N.Y.

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  After 24 years in the Foothill Plaza, 11242 S. Foothills Blvd., Mr. B's has outgrown its Foothills space and is moving into a larger store in the Pioneer Shopping Center, announced owner Donnie Bennett. The new store will be located next to the new Snap Fitness. Bennett said he hopes to open by the end of September.

  With the move, the store will begin staying open all year round. It also will carry a much greater variety of merchandise, including BMX, comfort, cruiser, electric, folding, hybrid, kids, mountain, recumbent, road and tandem bicycles.

  "Don't forget kids' and adult tricycles, too," Bennett said. "We will also have bicycle accessories galore."

  And of course, the shop will continue to service all types of bicycles.

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  By the way, Yuma Grill, the restaurant at the Shilo Inn, is still open for business and will remain so for the time being.

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  Lisa Farrell, who was recognized as Yuma's best catering service for 2007 by The Sun readers, is in need of a food service establishment to again provide her catering service and perhaps earn another "best catering in Yuma" honor.

  After 20 years in the food service business, she started her catering program at a local restaurant in 2006. That relationship was terminated and Farrell is looking for a new facility. She can be contacted at 210-4802.

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  En Gedi Salon and Spa, 3000 S. 5th Ave., is closing its doors as of Sept. 28. Beginning Oct. 1, Ellen Marler, Nancy Starr, Tina Soto and Ana Ruiz will be located at Hector's Beauty Pyramid, 225 S. Main St., where they will continue to offer hair and nail services, facials, waxing, massages and permanent makeup.

  For an appointment, they can be reached at the same phone number of 344-4174.

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  Kevin and Lea Stanhope announce they will be closing their Coldstone Creamery store at 2550 S. 4th Ave., effective Oct. 6. They said they have come to the end of their contract and decided not to renew it.

  Instead, they will be focusing their efforts on their store at Yuma Palms Shopping Center next to Harkins Theatres, where they will continue to serve customers the "ultimate ice cream experience." Plans also are under way to add "to-go" parking directly behind the store for faster and easier service for customers on the go.

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  Donnella Raible, owner of Sunset Staging in Yuma, has been awarded the designation of accredited staging professional after completing a course on preparing homes for sale.

  Homes that are staged by an accredited staging professional traditionally sell faster in today's real estate market because prospective buyers are shown a clean, clutter-free and neutral but attractive house.

  Sunset Staging services include writing and preparing a detailed report on how you can stage your own home, to packing your valuables and rearranging your furniture. Sunset Staging also can coordinate the selection, delivery and arrangement of rental furniture and accessories for vacant houses that need to be staged.

  Raible can be reached at sunsetstaging@yahoo.com. Photos of staged houses can be viewed at StagedHomes.com.

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 Staples, a leading office products company, has acquired Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. The acquisition will enable Staples to expand its product and service offerings, in particular in regard to contract sales to larger companies, said Paul Capelli, Staples spokesman.

  Staples has two Yuma stores: 500 W. Catalina Drive and 101 W. 16th St.

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  MGM Design recently launched a new Web site for the Southwest Emergency Physicians at www.swep.md.

  Southwest Emergency Physicians is the organization within Yuma Regional Medical Center responsible for recruiting and managing the emergency room doctors for the hospital. The primary focus of the Web site is recruitment of new doctors to the Yuma area and to aid communication by allowing SWEP staff to post schedules, make announcements and receive feedback electronically.

  One interesting aspect of the project was the use of a new domain extension, said Matt Molenar, president of MGM Design. "Technically, .md represents the obscure country of Moldova, but it has become extremely popular within the medical field as most .com names are already in use."

  MGM Design can be reached at 782-5915 or visit www.mgmdesign.com.

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  Brownbook.net (www.brownbook.net) is a new Web site designed to help consumers find reputable local businesses in Yuma and other communities. It's an online local business directory, but with a special twist – anyone can update the information in it or review a business. People looking for a local business in Yuma can read the reviews to help them evaluate the business before making contact.

  The service is free to use for consumers and for businesses. Or for a small fee, owners can get instant alerts of any reviews or choose from a variety of promotion packages to enhance their listing.

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