Friday, July 3, 2009

“El Paso Symphony Orchestra” To play at the Music Under the Stars 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular

7:30 pm, SATURDAY, July 4, 2009 at the Chamizal National Memorial


The City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) is pleased to present the El Paso Symphony Orchestra as part of the Music Under the Stars 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. The El Paso Symphony Orchestra will play patriotic selections with a fireworks finale at 9:15 pm. This is the only FREE fireworks display in the city on the 4th of July.

The concert will be held Saturday July 4, 2009 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Chamizal National Memorial located at 800 South San Marcial Street. Grills are allowed at the park except in the inner part of the park known as the bowl. The first 5,000 visitors will receive complimentary 3D glasses for fireworks courtesy of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department. Please note that glass containers or pets are NOT allowed at the park!

Call 541-4481 for updated information on any cancellations due to inclement weather.

Park and Ride!
Concert goers may park at the El Paso Zoo and take a shuttle to the park for free! Shuttle hours are from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

MCAD would like to thank the Chamizal National Memorial, What’s Up Weekly, the El Paso Electric Company, the El Paso Zoo, the Holiday Inn Airport, LocoHec Productions the El Paso Fire Department, the El Paso Police Department, Juvenile Probation Department and Sunwest Charters for their support!

For additional information call or visit the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department at (915) 541-4481, www.elpasoartsandculture.org or call Chamizal National Memorial at (915) 532-7273.

Contact Victor Guerrero at (915) 541-4942 or (915) 434-6743 for media inquiries.

The El Paso Museum of Art Will Observe Normal Hours Of Operation

On Friday, July 3, 2009 And Sunday, July 5, 2009

The El Paso Museum of Art will observe normal hours of operation on Friday, July 3, 2009 and Sunday, July 5, 2009. The Museum of Art will be closed on Saturday, July 4, 2009 in observance of the 4th of July holiday. Please note that the El Paso Street Festival will be ongoing on Santa Fe and Main Streets surrounding the museum. Guests can still enter the Museum of Art through the front doors which are located across the street from the Camino Real Hotel.

Hours of Operation
Friday, July 3, 2009: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, July 4, 2009: CLOSED
Sunday, July 5, 2009: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

For more information please call (915) 532-1707

Holiday Schedule for Sun Metro Fourth of July celebrations require temporary detours, boarding relocation

El Paso, Texas—Sun Metro buses will maintain a regular weekday schedule on Friday, July 3.

Bus routes will run on a Sunday/Holiday schedule on Saturday, July 4, to observe the Fourth of July holiday.

Fourth of July celebrations will require the temporary relocation of boarding sites along El Paso St. and detours of several routes beginning Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5.

Boarding Relocation

Boarding for routes 3, 8, 9 and 62 will be relocated to Oregon St. between Missouri Ave. and Franklin Ave.

Detours

Detours for routes 13, 14 and 15 will only apply from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, during the Rotary Club West El Paso Parade.
Route 13
During Saturday’s parade, buses traveling east on Resler Dr. (away from Pitts St.) will turn right on Mesa St., right on Balboa Rd. returning to the regular route.

Buses traveling southeast on Fiesta Dr. will turn right on Balboa Rd., left on Cadiz St., right on Sunland Park Dr., enter Interstate-10 west, exit Resler Dr., turn right on Mesa St. returning to regular route. Drivers will be on the look out for passengers along Escondido Dr. and Resler Dr.

Route14
During Saturday’s parade, buses traveling south on Westwind Dr. will turn right on Escondido Dr., left on Resler Dr., left on Mesa St., right on Sunland Park returning to the regular route.

Buses traveling Mesa Hills Dr. toward Sunland Park Dr. will turn left on Sunland Park Dr., enter I-10 west, exit Resler Dr., turn right on Escondido Dr., left on Westwind Dr. returning to the regular route. Drivers will be on the look out for passengers along Escondido Dr. and Resler Dr.

Route 15
During Saturday’s parade, buses traveling north on Mesa St. will turn left on Mesa Hills Dr., left on Sunland Park Dr., enter I-10 west, exit Resler Dr., turn left on Mesa St. returning to the regular route.
The route detours listed below will begin Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5. Drivers will make courtesy stops along the detours.
Route 3
Beginning from Oregon St. and Franklin Ave., buses will turn right on Franklin Ave., right on Santa Fe St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Durango St., left on San Antonio St., right on Santa Fe St. returning to the regular route.

Route 4
Buses traveling south on Santa Fe St. will turn left on Franklin Ave., right on Oregon St., left on San Antonio St. returning to the regular route.

Route 8
Buses traveling north on El Paso St. will turn left on San Antonio St., right on Durango St., right on Missouri Ave., left on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Oregon St. to the temporary boarding site. Buses traveling from the Union Plaza Trolley Terminal will follow the same path beginning at the intersection of Missouri Ave. and Santa Fe St.

Buses leaving the temporary boarding site will turn right on Franklin St., right on Santa Fe St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Durango St., right on San Antonio St. returning to the regular route.

Route 9
Buses traveling north on Santa Fe St. will turn right on San Antonio St. left on Stanton St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Oregon St. to the temporary boarding site. Buses traveling east on Missouri Ave. will turn left on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Oregon St. to temporary boarding site, left on Franklin St. returning to the regular route.

Route 18
Buses traveling east on San Antonio St. will turn left on Durango St., right on Missouri Ave., left on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Oregon St., right on Franklin St. to the boarding site.

Buses leaving the Franklin St. boarding site will turn right on Santa Fe St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Durango St., left on San Antonio St., right on Santa Fe St. returning to the regular route.

Routes 21 and 22
Buses leaving the Franklin St. boarding site will turn right on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Kansas St., left on San Antonio St. returning to the regular route.

Route 23
Buses traveling north on Santa Fe St. will turn left on Paisano Dr., right on Durango St., right on Missouri Ave., left on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave. to the boarding site.

Buses leaving the Franklin St. boarding site will turn right on Santa Fe St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Durango St., left on San Antonio St., right on Santa Fe St. returning to the regular route.

Routes 24 and 65
Buses traveling west on Paisano Dr. will turn right on Durango St., right on Missouri Ave., left on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Oregon St., right on Franklin St. to the boarding site.

Buses leaving the Franklin St. boarding site will turn right on Santa Fe St., left on Missouri Ave., left on Durango St., left on San Antonio St., right on Santa Fe St. returning to the regular route.

Route 55
Buses leaving the Franklin St. boarding site will turn right on Santa Fe St., right on Wyoming Ave., right on Kansas St., left on San Antonio St. returning to the regular route.

Route 62
Buses leaving the temporary boarding site on Franklin St. will turn left on Franklin St., right on Kansas St., left on San Antonio St. returning to the regular route.

Route 83
Buses traveling east on San Antonio St. will turn left on Durango St., right on Missouri Ave., right on Santa Fe St., left on Franklin St. to the boarding site.
For more information about routes, visit www.elpasotexas.gov/sunmetro or call (915) 533-3333.

CALL TO ARTISTS! Chalk-the-Block, Public Art Street Festival 2009

Calling all artists! The City of El Paso’s Public Art Program and the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department is looking for local and regional artists who would like to produce chalk art on the city sidewalks of Downtown El Paso as part of the Second Annual Public Art Street Festival titled “Chalk the Block.”

Participation is open to all artists, who reside in El Paso, Cd. Juarez, and Las Cruces. Interested artists may choose to apply as a Showcase, Emerging, or High School Artist or Artist Team. Each category will be competing for a First, Second, and Third Place cash prize, and be considered for a Best of Show Award.

Upon selection by a jury panel made up of local artists and members of the community, a group of artists will be chosen to participate in Chalk the Block and be required to attend a chalk art workshop. All artists will be responsible for the production of a creative and unique design to be done in chalk on a sidewalk block the day of the event.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 19th, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm and spaces will be limited.

For a detailed description regarding project qualifications and submission requirements please visit our event website at www.chalktheblock.com.

Applications will be taken through July 31st and those winning artists selected to participate will be announced by August 14th.

The event is brought to you in collaboration with the City of El Paso Museums & Cultural Affairs Department and the El Paso Community Foundation.

About the Event

Chalk the Block is a public art event entering its second year. The highlight of the event is the works of art made in chalk by both established and emerging artists. The City of El Paso’s Public Art Program and the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, in collaboration with the El Paso Community Foundation, will open to artists on Friday September 18th and host the Chalk the Block Downtown Public Art Street Festival on Saturday, September 19, 2009, noon to 6 p.m. at the Arts Festival Plaza. The fun-filled event will also include entertaining activities for people of all ages such as the Creative Kids Zone, the Teen Skate area, Light as Air, an inflatable exhibition, vendors, live music and food.

For additional information please contact Marisol Lopez, Public Art Program Specialist at (915) 541-4257 or e-mail lopezma@elpasotexas.gov.

Westside Skate Park Grand Opening Celebration

WHO: El Paso Parks and Recreation Department

WHAT: Skate Park Grand Opening

WHAT: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Westside Community Park, 7400 High Ridge Dr.

The Westside Skate Park will be having a grand opening celebration at 6:30 p.m. on July 8 at the Westside Community Park, 7400 High Ridge Dr.

The Skate Park which started in March is over 12,000 square feet of excitement for skate board enthusiasts built into a bowl of poured concrete with various amenities.

Jose Ortiz, Engineering Lead Technician for the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department says, “The skate park has stairs, branding rails, banks, quarter pipes, benches and landscaping. The $452,000 project was built with 2000 Quality of Life funding.

He added, “The project was done in coordination with the City of El Paso Engineering Department along with Mijares.Mora Architectects and CSA Engineering.”

The skate project started in March and for the grand opening celebration, Nanette Smejkal, Parks and Recreation Director will serve as Master of Ceremonies and guest speaker will be City Council Representative Ann Lilly.


For more information, call (915) 541-4826.

El Paso Diablos Food Drive to Benefit West Texas Food Bank

Who: El Paso Diablos to support West Texas Food Bank

When: July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

Where: Cohen Stadium

What: To help feed the hungry in El Paso County


Bring your can goods on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and get a card from West Texas Food Bank and you will get a free admission ticket for Sunday, July 5th.

Gov. Perry Names Butterworth Presiding Officer of Aging and Disability Services Council

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry has named Sharon S. Butterworth of El Paso
presiding officer of the Aging and Disability Services Council for a term to
expire at the pleasure of the governor. The council recommends policies to
the Health and Human Services Commission to assist the elderly and disabled
in Texas.

Butterworth is a retired management professional and active community
volunteer. She is a member of the Southwestern Children's Home Trust Board
of Trustees, YWCA Metropolitan Advisory Board of El Paso, and J. Edward and
Helen M. C. Stern Foundation Board. She is also a member of the Pan American
Round Table of El Paso, El Paso Symphony Guild and Women's Department of the
Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. She is also a recipient of the Texas
L.U.L.A.C. District IV Humanitarian Award and life member of the United Way
of El Paso County Board of Directors. Butterworth attended the University of
Texas at El Paso. She replaces Terry Wilkinson of Midland as presiding
officer.

4th of July Holiday Hours for Quality of Life Facilities

El Paso, Texas – The City’s Quality of Life Departments will maintain adjusted hours for their facilities during the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend. Please note the following facilities’ hours:

Parks & Recreation
Parks staff is making preparations to keep parks looking clean, including placing extra trash cans at key parks to accommodate the added use.

All Recreation Centers will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd and closed on Saturday, July 4th.

All Senior Centers will be closed on Friday, July 3rd.

Sports Centers at Nations Tobin (8831 Railroad Dr.) and Chalio Acosta (4321 Delta Dr.) will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd and will be closed on Saturday, July 4th.

All indoor and outdoor pools with the exception of Grandview, Chelsea & Therapeutic & Instructional pools, which will be closed, will have the following hours of operation:
Friday, July 3rd 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 4th 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 5th 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, July 6th 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Regular hours of operation will resume on Monday, July 6th at all facilities.

Parks & Recreation Info: (915) 541-4331


El Paso Public Library
All Libraries will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th. Libraries will resume a regular schedule on Sunday, July 5th.

El Paso Public Library Info: (915) 543-5401


Museums & Cultural Affairs
All Museum facilities (El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Museum of History & El Paso Museum of Archaeology) will be open regular hours on Friday, July 3rd and will be closed on Saturday, July 4th.

MCAD Info: Museums & Cultural Affairs (915) 541-4481


El Paso Zoo
The El Paso Zoo will be open with regular operating hours on July 3rd, 4th and 5th.

El Paso Zoo Info: (915) 521-1850