Comings and Goings: Old Chretin's site to have apartments

The city of Yuma has issued building permits for the construction of Palo Verde Villas, a 29-unit apartment complex Jim Waits is developing on the old site of Chretin's at 485 S. 15th Ave.

In other city building activity, Alan Kircher, deputy building official, reported:

• A permit has been issued for tenant improvements for Pacific Bistro Asian Cuisine in Yuma Plaza Shops A at the southwest corner of 16th Street and Pacific Avenue. The restaurant is being opened by Asian Star.

• Plans are in review for tenant improvements to the Yuma Plaza Shops B for a new Edward Jones Investment office.

• Work has been completed on kitchen and dining room renovations at Yuma Regional Medical Center Corporate Center.

• Plans have been submitted for renovations to Starbucks at 24th Street and Avenue B.

• Plans also have been submitted for tenant improvements for Game Stop in the strip center near the Avenue B Walmart.

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It may seem like a stretch for a pest control company to take on an air conditioning franchise, but it made sense to Matt Aycock, general manager of Yuma Termite & Pest Systems and now One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating.

He noted that the business was already in the service industry and understands the value of good customer service. So he's coupled that background with the hiring of experienced technicians to offer air conditioning and heating service to the Yuma area. Plus, he already has a customer base for which he can now offer additional services.

While independently owned, he can pass savings and other benefits on to customers as a part of the One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating national network.

The business offers the sale and installation of HVAC units and other products, repairs and service, including emergency service 24/7. And if the technician is late, the service call is free.

One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating is located at 1102 E. 21st St. and can be reached at 783-4242.

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Byrne & Benesch, P.C., is pleased to announce that Suzanne M. Nicholls Miner has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Nicholls Miner, the mother of four children, is a Yuma native, having attended St. Francis of Assisi School and Yuma High School before receiving her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University.

For several years, she served as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Division. She also brings civil litigation experience in matters such as insurance defense and product liability gained while previously employed with a Phoenix firm. Her areas of practice include business and corporate law, contract law, insurance defense, product and professional liability, appellate practice and public agency law.

Byrne & Benesch is at 230 W. Morrison St. and can be reached at 782-1805.

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Extreme Hair & Wellness Salon has moved to 3300 S. 8th Ave., Suite F, in the Westward Village, announced owner Tomi Moreno. The salon can be reached at 246-7817.

With the move, the salon has more room and is offering small-group yoga and meditation classes.

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Taco Salsa in branching out to Somerton and is planning to open a restaurant there in late June, confirmed owner Marisela Ibarra. The Somerton restaurant will be at 109 Cactus St., Suites C and D.

Ibarra opened the Yuma restaurant at 2423 S. 4th Ave. about 23 years ago.

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The finishing touches are being put on Fretworks!, an independent music store that will be opening in the next few weeks at 1150 S. Castle Dome Ave., Suite A, in Las Palmillas Shopping Center, confirmed Lisa Rammelt, general manager.

The Yuma store will be the second location for owner Rick Holaus (The Holaus Companies), who opened the first store in 2005 in Greenwood, S.C.

The store will stock a full array of combo gear, including guitars, drums, keyboards, sound equipment and accessories. It also will be the local affiliate for Bertrand's Music to provide band and orchestra instrument rentals, sales and accessories.

The store has 10 lesson rooms, and applications are being accepted for music teachers or talented musicians to teach students of all ages. To apply, go to www.FretworksMusic.com and click on Work With Us.

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Mark R. Pancrazi, of A.T. Pancrazi Insurance Inc., was recognized at the Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company national sales conference as being among the company's leading writers of farm insurance in 2011. The A.T. Pancrazi Insurance agency, 333 W. 8th St., is a Master Farm Certified Agent of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company.

While more than 9,300 agencies write farm insurance for Nationwide, only 94 qualified for the 2012 FAST Track Conference. The company is a leader in insurance and risk management solutions for commercial agribusinesses.

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That Chick-fil-A I'm sure to be asked about every week? Here's another sign it really is coming this time.

A request is before the Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission for a conditional use permit to allow a drive-through facility for the restaurant. This is the second time around for the request as the previously approved permit for the site expired on Jan. 24.

The long-awaited restaurant will be constructed on a free-standing pad at the southwest corner of Pacific Avenue and 16th Street near where Five Guys is located.

By the way, the company originally had planned to open a restaurant in Yuma in 2006, but those plans never materialized.

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And that Taco Bell that is headed for the Foothills area? Got a call from the company that groundbreaking has been scheduled for June 15. It will be going in on the north side of Interstate 8 near McDonald's.

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