EAT TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT!

On Thursday, April 28, El Paso will host the sixth annual Dining Out For Life event.

Twenty-five percent of each diner’s bill (food and non- alcoholic beverage) at

participating restaurants will be donated to the Food Pantry program at International

AIDS Empowerment. By eating breakfast, lunch or dinner at a participating restaurant

El Pasoans will be helping over 300 families affected by AIDS in the El Paso region.

This international event will take place only on one day - Thursday, April 28.

This year’s participating restaurants include:

2900

Al-Zaituna Restaurant

Ardovino’s Desert Crossing

Bella Napoli Ristorante

Cappetto’s Italian Restaurant

Coach’s Grill

El Parque

Fellini Film Café

The Garden

Geske’s Fire Grill

The Greenery Restaurant & Market

The Kitchen by Chef Sai

The Magic Pan (Cincinnati)

Mesa Street Grill

RIPE

Ruli’s International Kitchen

Sam's Chinese Restaurant

Singapore Café

Sushi Express

Tara Thai

Toro Burger (North Mesa)

Toro Burger (Montana – Airport)

Toro Burger (Zaragosa)

Dining Out For Life® is an annual fundraising event involving the generous

participation of volunteers, corporate sponsors and restaurants. In exchange for their

financial support, restaurants are listed in a city wide marketing campaign in an effort

to increase customer traffic.

In 1991 Dining Out For Life® was created by an ActionAIDS volunteer in

Philadelphia. In 1993, ActionAIDS made it an international event offering licenses to

AIDS Service Organizations around the country. Since Dining Out for Life

International's founding the event has grown throughout North America and is now

produced in over 33 cities.

More than 2,500 restaurants a year donate a portion of their proceeds from this one

special night of dining to the licensed agency in their city. Over $2 million dollars a

year is raised to support the missions of agencies throughout North America.

For More Info Call Tony Rivas (915) 274-9372 (cell)

Or, Skip Rosenthal at (915) 590-2118 or (915) 253-0525 (cell).

Sun Metro Introduces Texas Tech-UMC Express Route

***Limited-express service begins May 2***

El Paso, Texas¾Starting Monday, May 2, Sun Metro will begin providing bus service from its East Side Transit Terminal to the Texas Tech-University Medical Center area on Route 26, also known as the Texas Tech-UMC Express Route.

East side commuters traveling to the medical area looking for a smart, green and inexpensive transportation option can park their car for free at the East Side Transit Terminal, 1165 Sunmount, and board Route 26.

To encourage Texas Tech and UMC employees to ride public transit, Sun Metro is offering a 50 percent discount for the first monthly bus pass bought by Texas Tech and UMC employees with a valid employee ID. The cost of a regular monthly pass is $48 and offers unlimited rides on any fixed route though out the city for the life of the pass.

The first monthly pass discount will save Texas Tech and UMC employees $24 and can be purchased at one of the various informational tables Sun Metro is hosting at Texas Tech and UMC over the next several weeks, at the East Side Transfer Center (1165 Sunmount), the Downtown Transfer Center (601 Santa Fe) and the Union Depot (700-A San Francisco) with a valid employee id.

The new route will operate Monday through Friday during morning and afternoon peak hours only. Morning departure times from the East Side are at 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Afternoon departure times from the campus are 5:15 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Route 26 will drop off passengers on El Paso Drive, near Alameda Ave., and on Alameda Ave. in front of UMC. Riders also can purchase one-way trips, day passes or weekly passes on the bus. Reduced-fare passes are available for students, disabled and seniors.

“At a time when gas prices are sky rocketing and parking is at a premium around areas such as Texas Tech and UMC, it makes sense for all El Pasoans to look at public transit as a viable transportation option,” said Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak.

Sun Metro will be hosting various informational tables at Texas Tech and UMC over the next several weeks to answer questions and sign up employees.

Employees who live in other parts of the city also are urged to ride Sun Metro and plan their trips online using Google Transit’s Trip Planner at www.elpasotexas.gov/sunmetroOR call (915)533-3333 to talk to a customer service representative.

Easter Activities with El Paso Parks and Recreation

All events Free

The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will host free children Easter activities at numerous Recreation Centers listed below.

Center Name and Address                            Date                Time

Pat O’Rourke, 911 N. Virginia St.                 April 16          10am – 12pm 

Gary Del Palacio, 3001 Parkwood Dr.           April 16          11am – 12pm

Leona Ford Washington, 3400 E. Missouri   April 20          5pm   – 8pm   

 Nolan Richardson, 4435 Maxwell Dr.                     April 22           4pm   – 6pm   

Rae Gilmore, 8501 Diana St.                         April 22          4pm  –  6pm   

 Chihuahuita, 417 Charles Rd.                                   April 22          4pm –   6pm

Seville, 6700 Sambrano Dr.                           April 22          430pm – 630pm  

San Juan, 701 N. Glenwood St.                      April 23          10am – 12pm  

Pavo Real, 9301 Alameda St.                         April 23          10am – 12pm  

Veterans, 5301 Salem Dr.                              April 23          10am – 12pm  

Marty Robbins, 11600 Vista Del Sol                         April 23          10am – 12pm  

Galatzan. 650 Wallenberg Dr.                                   April 23          12pm – 2pm      

Carolina, 563 N. Carolina St.                         April 23          10am – 1pm      

Don Haskins, 7400 High Ridge St.                April 23          11:30 – 1230pm

               Information – (915) 544-0753

Easter, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekends in the Parks

Help keep Parks Clean!!!

The City of El Paso is once again asking for the public’s assistance over the Easter, Mothers Day and Memorial Day weekends with their support of cleaning up after family festivities in the Parks.

Over the Easter (April 22^nd -24^th), Mother’s Day (May 7^th -8^th ), and Memorial Day (May 27^th – 30^th) weekends thousands of people will descend on the city’s parks and the support of park goers is needed for a safe and fun-filled weekend for all.

            Charcoal and other items should be taken home by park goers and thrown in the proper receptacle and not on the ground, next to the trash bins or trees as the charcoal can damage the grass and kill the trees.

            Individuals should bring their own trash bags as well to assist with the clean up in the parks.

                        Checklist of Do’s and Don’ts for Park-goers

·         City ordinance violators should be immediately reported to the police

·         The simple rule "leave it better than you found it" applies to all park users

·         Any trash left in the parks should be contained in a trash bag and deposited in a trash receptacle & not left in grocery bags or empty boxes on the ground.

·         No confetti or breaking piñatas. Do not hang any items in trees.

·         Charcoal should not be left on the ground, grass or by trees. Charcoal can kill the grass or trees. Charcoal should be put in a trash bag and disposed of properly in trash receptacle or taken home and disposed of properly.

·          "No Alcoholic Beverages in City Parks"

New Traffic Signals in East El Paso

El Paso, Texas – The new traffic signals at the intersection of Zaragoza Road and Charles Schulte Drive, as well as, at Zaragoza and Sombra Del Sol Way will be set to flash mode today, the City of El Paso Department of Transportation announced.

The new traffic signals will be set to flash mode to acquaint motorists and pedestrians with the equipment. The equipment at both intersections is scheduled to be set to automatic mode, or normal operation, on Monday (April 11, 2011).

The projects cost approximately $200,000 each. Motorists are encouraged to use caution while traveling through the newly signalized intersections.

Traffic signal projects are designed to improve vehicular and pedestrian traffic operations in El Paso.

Local Governments to Receive $417 Million in Sales Tax Revenue

(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said today the state’s sales revenue in March was $1.60 billion, up 9.9 percent compared to March 2010.

“State sales tax revenue has now increased for 12 straight months,” said Combs.  “Strong consumer and business spending helped increase revenue in large sectors of the economy such as retail, manufacturing and the oil and gas industry.”

Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts will receive $417.6 million in April sales tax allocations, a 6 percent increase compared to April 2010.  So far in 2011, monthly sales tax allocations to local governments are up 7.5 percent compared to a year ago.

On Friday, Comptroller Combs will send April sales tax allocations of $279.4 million to Texas cities, up 5.2 percent compared to April 2010.  Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 6.7 percent higher than last year.  Texas counties will receive sales tax payments of $26.6 million, up 11.1 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 13.2 percent higher than last year.

In addition, 173 special purpose taxing districts are getting $17.7 million in sales tax, up 12.8 percent compared to last April.  Ten local transit systems will receive $93.7 million in sales tax rebates, up 5.7 percent compared to a year ago.

March state sales tax revenue and April payments made to local governments represent sales that occurred in February.

For details of April sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, visit the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports page on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.

The Comptroller’s May sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, May 13

Summer Swim League Registration

Starts April 16^th

            The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will start registration for the Summer League for interested participants from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.on April 16^thuntil space remains for a fee of $35.

The league is open to individuals 18 years of age and younger and registration is available by going to the pool in your area. All pools will have swim teams except for Therapeutic and Instructional, Delta and Pat O’Rourke.   

            For Registration individuals must bring a copy of the following:

·         Driver’s license with current address

·         Child’s Birth Certificate

·         Parent/Participant Acknowledgement Form

·         Parent or Guardian must be present to register their child  (no exceptions) letter of authority will not be accepted.

Please note: A participant must be able to swim the length of the pool without stopping or assistance. This is a safety factor during practices and meets.

Visit www.activenet17.active.com/coepparksrec/?redir=1., which is the Aquatics Parent Class web site for detailed information on class times. The Aquatic Parent Classes are tailored to the swimmer and their parents. Please be aware that a copy of the receipt from the parent class must be supplied at the time of registration.

Information – (915) 544-3556

Golden Easter Egg Hunt at Armijo Aquatic Center

Free Swimming at Conclusion of Easter Egg Hunt in Pool

The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will host a Golden Easter Egg Hunt from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 at the Armijo Aquatic Center, 911 S. Ochoa St.

The Easter Egg Hunt will be in the shallow depth area of the pool at the Aquatic Center.

Free Swimming will be available to those participants in the Golden Egg Hunt from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The event is free with a specific time for each age category as listed below.

                                                Times and Age Groups

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.          (Ages 4 & Under)

11:45a.m.  – 12:00 p.m.         (Ages 5-7)

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.          (Ages 8-12)

Information – (915) 544-3556