The Pima County Health Department will offer extended hours at its offices in July and August to provide more opportunities for children to be vaccinated before the start of school.

While vaccines are available at Health Department offices all year long, additional hours and opportunities to schedule an appointment will make it easier for families to beat the rush before school starts.

Back to School Clinics will be held at the following locations:

• East Office: 6920 E. Broadway Blvd. (520) 298-3888
• North Office: 3550 N. 1st Ave. (520) 243-2850
• South Office: 175 W. Irvington Road (520) 889-9543
• Green Valley Office: 601 N. La Cañada Dr. (520) 648-1626
• Catalina Office: 3535 E. Hawser St. (520) 825-9299

Hours for each of the clinics are attached, and can also be found along with fees at www.pimahealth.org.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive a vaccine, and it’s recommended that they eat before receiving a vaccine.

Remember to bring:

• AHCCCS or insurance card
• Current immunization card

For more information about the Back to School Clinics, visit www.pimahealth.org or call (520) 243-7736.

The Pima County Health Department will give away free booster seats at all Health Department immunization clinics starting July 2, 2012.

The booster seats are being given out in partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services to help families before a new statewide law goes into effect August 2, 2012. The new law requires that all children between the ages of 5 and 8 years and less than 4 feet 10 inches tall are required to sit in a booster seat while riding in a car.

Booster seats are designed to raise a child so the seat belt fits properly and reduces a child’s risk of injury in a crash.

The booster seats will be distributed at the following locations during immunization clinic hours or by appointment:

• East Office: 6920 E. Broadway Boulevard (520) 298-3888
• North Office: 3550 N. 1st Avenue (520) 243-2850
• South Office: 175 W. Irvington Road (520) 889-9543
• Green Valley Office: 601 N. La Cañada Drive (520) 648-1626
• Ajo Office: 120 Estrella, Ajo, AZ 85321 1(520) 387-7206
• Catalina Office: 3535 E. Hawser (520) 825-9299

Visit www.pimahealth.org or call (520) 243-7736 for immunization clinic hours or to make an appointment.

Families can receive one seat per eligible child 5-8 years old and less than 4 feet 10 inches tall, while supplies last. For more information about the booster seats, call (520) 243-7736.

Pima County is proud to be a sponsor of Cyclovia Tucson, an annual free and “car-free event that opens selected streets to people so that they can walk, skate, run, bicycle, and socialize with their neighbors.”

This year’s event, on Sunday, March 18, will close to cars – and bring a variety of activities to – most of South Fourth and South Eighth avenues between downtown and Interstate 10.

Pima County has committed $15,000 a year for the next three years to Cyclovia Tucson.  It has also arranged a safe route for cyclists to Cyclovia from The Loop, 55 miles of off-street bike and pedestrian paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson.

“Pima County is committed to improving the quality of life for the entire community through our continued investment in recreational programs for all ages,” Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said.

“Development of The Loop is one such investment.  The community feedback has prompted us to expand our wellness offerings to include bicycle training, sponsored rides and other bicycle-related activities.  The more healthy activities the region provides, the better.”

Emily Yetman, 2012 Event Coordinator for Cyclovia Tucson and President of the local nonprofit, Living Streets Alliance, welcomed the County’s support.

“The County has been a leader in promoting health and wellness in the region,” Yetman said, “and we see this as a great partnership since Cyclovia Tucson is all about getting people out to get exercise, have fun, discover more about our community, and give ‘people-powered’ transportation a try.  We’re thrilled!”

The County’s financial support will come from the Pima County Bicycling and Pedestrian Program.

Cyclists on The Loop will be able to ride to Cyclovia via the bike and pedestrian path on the east side of the Santa Cruz River Park through Verdugo Park at West 19th Street and onto West 18th Street to South Eighth Avenue (see map below).  Guided rides to the event from various parts of the Tucson area are also being organized.

Pima County’s programs and services – including its educational, sustainability and environmental efforts; The Loop; and the Pima County Public Library and Health Department – will be highlighted at Santa Rita Park, South Fourth Avenue and East 22nd Street.

For more information about Cyclovia Tucson, visit www.cycloviatucson.org.

For more information about the following Pima County programs, check out the following links:

Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, including free bicycle safety classes, http://bikeped.pima.gov.

The Loop,  www.pima.gov/TheLoop

New Loop video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Etsx13J3M

Public Library,  www.library.pima.gov

Health Department,  www.pimahealth.org

Sustainability efforts,  www.pima.gov/Sustainability/

Environmental programs,  www.deq.pima.gov

Las Artes GED program,  www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html

Buffelgrass eradication efforts,  www.pima.gov/nrpr/eeduc/volunteers/sdweedwackers

Pima County, Arizona – Make Colossal Cave Mountain Park part of your holiday celebrations.  See Colossal Cave by candlelight or headlamp on one of the park’s Adventure Tours.

Colossal Cave, which is full of stalactites, stalagmites and other cave formations, was used for centuries by prehistoric peoples before it was “discovered” in 1879.  The 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, and is open every day of the year for cave tours, hiking, birding, trail rides, picnics, camping, parties and cookouts.  Winter hours (through March 15) are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coming up:

• Sunday, Dec. 4:  Marc Severson of Old Pueblo Archaeology will share holiday stories from native peoples from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17:  Don’t miss “Holiday in The Park” – wagon rides around the 132-year-old La Posta Quemada Ranch, followed by hot chocolate and s’mores, and a Candlelight Tour of Colossal Cave.

The Candlelight Tour (1-1½ hours, candles are provided) is one of three Adventure Tours available by reservation for groups ranging in size from 2 to 20 people.  Visit mysterious, off-route areas of Colossal Cave few others have seen on the Ladder Tour (1½ hours, helmets and lights provided).  Follow in the footsteps of outlaws and early explorers into the depths of the earth on the Wild Cave Tour (2-4 hours, helmets and lights provided).

Call 520-647-7275 for more information and Adventure Tour costs and to make reservations.  What a great gift for adventurous friends and family members!

Regular Cave Tour Rates (no reservations required):

Adults (ages 13 and older)…………………$13 (up from $12, effective Nov. 15)

For military with ID……………………..$11

Children (ages 5-12)…………………………$6.50

For military with ID……………………..$6

Children ages 4 and younger………………FREE

You can get half off the price of a children’s ticket with purchase of an adult tour ticket if you print out a fun pass at http://www.colossalcave.com/PDF/FunPass.pdf

Daily park use fees are $5 per auto ($1 per person over six people); $1 per bicycle; $2 per motorcycle; $1 per person on a tour bus; and free for school buses.

For more information about the Pima County-owned park, go to www.colossalcave.com or call (520) 647 PARK (7275).

Pima County, Arizona – Applications for after-school and Kids And Parent Playtime (KAPP) programs will be available for on-site completion and due July 11-15 at participating Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department community centers.

Both programs are free, except for special events.  Because of the programs’ popularity, registration is by lottery.  The lottery will be held the week after the application deadline, and applicants will be notified of their status.

The August-December after-school program at eight community centers is for children ages 5-13.  Five-year-olds must be enrolled in elementary school.  Activities include homework help, reading program, group games, sports, arts and crafts, board and table games and special events.

Days and times vary by center. The program will run from school dismissal until 6 p.m. at most locations.  Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation facilities are not licensed child-care facilities.  The school-age youth programs are “at will” drop-in programs, and youth enrolled in the programs may come and go of their own volition.

For more information about the after-school program, go to http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/youth/index.htm.

The eight-week KAPP program – from Aug. 15 through Oct. 7 – at seven community centers is for children ages 3-5 years who are toilet-trained and their parent/s.  A variety of activities are offered such as arts and crafts, music, story time, nutrition education, early learning skills, socialization, sports skills and active games.  Days and times vary by center.  Parent must accompany the child and remain on premises during the entire program. Additional parent programming may be available at individual sites.  Please contact the participating community centers for more information or go to http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/tots/index.htm.

Pima County, Arizona – Colossal Cave Mountain Park is raising its rates for tours of Colossal Cave to cover increasing costs related to fuel prices and the park’s education programs.

Effective July 1, tour rates will be:

Adults (ages 13 and older)………………$12.00 (up from $11.00)

Children (ages 5-12)…………………..…….$6.50 (up from $6.00)

Children ages 4 and younger………………………………….FREE

The park is also instituting a discount for military personnel and their families.  Military personnel must show their ID to obtain the discount.  Effective July 1, cave tour rates for military personnel and their families will be:

Adults (ages 13 and older)……………………………………$11.00

Children (ages 5-12)……………………….……………..…….$6.00

Children ages 4 and younger….……………………………….FREE

No reservations for the cave tour are required.

You can get half off the price of a children’s ticket with purchase of an adult tour ticket if you print out a fun pass at http://www.colossalcave.com/PDF/FunPass.pdf

Daily park use fees are $5.00 per auto ($1.00 per person over six people); $1.00 per bicycle; $2.00 per motorcycle; $1.00 per person on a tour bus; and free for school buses.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park is one of the oldest established tourist attractions in Arizona.  The park at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail is owned by Pima County and is open every day of the year.  Summer hours (March 16 to September 15) are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The park is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Civilian Conservation Corps created the park’s buildings and walkways in the 1930s.  For more information about the park, go to http://www.colossalcave.com/ or call (520)647 PARK (7275).