Leisure Services Winter/Spring Program Guide Now Available

Union City Leisure Services' Winter/Spring 2012 activity guide is hot off the pressures! The upcoming city-sponsored programs include new classes and returning favorites, including filmmaking, bellydancing, sign language classes for tots, Capoeira and more.

Chris Valuckas, recreation supervisor for UCLS, shares some of the highlights for the winter and spring seasons:

Special Events

• The will be having their 5k, 10k Fun run and Walk on Sunday, March 11. This event is held every year to acknowledge the anniversary of the Sports Center which opened in March of 2007. This event is ideal for families since there will be a stroller division and a pet division as well. All participants will receive a t-shirt. (See page 3 for more details.)

• We'll be having our Spring Egg Hunt at on Saturday, April 7.  UCLS has been doing this event for years now and it is always a big hit with both the parents and the kids. Participants are treated to a goodie bag, a mini carnival, a book faire, egg hunts and a special visit from Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. (See page 3 for more details.)

• UCLS will be holding its 5th Annual Young Artist Faire. This faire is free for all budding artists ages 6-17 years old. All art work will be displayed at in the month of April and will then be displayed at both City hall and at the Union City Sports Center. (See page 3 for more details.)

Tots

• UCLS is proud to bring Sign Language classes for newborns, toddlers and pre-schoolers in 2012! The Signing Time Academy will have sign language classes that will help newborns communicate with their caregivers and help pre-schoolers enhance their literacy and improve their memory. (See page 5 for more details.)

Youth

• UCLS is excited to be partnering up with the Lekha School of Creative Writing to offer writing classes for kids ages 8 to 10. These classes will help young writers use their imagination while writing clearly and concisely so they can create stories that reflect their creativity. (See page 9 for more details.)

Aquatics

• UCLS Aquatics will be gearing up for another season of swimming fun at the at James Logan. Classes start on April 17 and UCLS will be offering such new aquatics programs as Youth Waterpolo to go along with the regular schedule of swim lessons for people of all ages. (See page 16 for more details.)

Tennis

• UCLS is proud to announce Kirsten Pacis as its new tennis instructor.  Kirsten will be offering tennis classes for youth, teens and adults on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at the starting on January 9. Kirsten will also be offering private and semi private lessons as well. (See page 19 for more details.)

Adult classes

• UCLS is offering a class to budding filmmakers called "How to Make a True Independent Film" that will go over the basics, including: scriptwriting, production to selling the final product. Our instructor Bryan Nelson has worked in over 30 film projects ranging from music videos to commercials. (See page 21 for more details.)

Special Needs

• UCLS and Special Olympics will be holding basketball, track and aquatics programs for athletes with special needs ages 8 and up. (See page 25 for more details.)

• UCLS will be once again teaming up with to offer a Valentines Social on Friday, February 10 at the . UCLS will also team up with NHUSD to offer its third annual Spring Fling at the Kennedy Center on Friday, May 4. (See page 25 for more details.)

• UC Clubhouse will have a lot of exciting activities coming up in 2012, including two awesome field trips in conjunction with the RADD program in Pleasanton. (See page 24 for more details.)

Martial Arts

• Oscar Baeza has been offering an outstanding Capoeira program with UCLS for over fifteen years now and he will be starting another exciting round of classes in early January at the Ruggieri Senior Center. Capoeira is an Afro- Brazilian art form that combines dance, martial arts, music, acrobatics and self-defense. (See page 26 for more details.)

Fitness

• will now be offering Zumba classes for all the Ruggieri Senior Center starting on Tuesday nights on January 10. Classes can be taken either as a drop in or in five week increments. (See page 29 for more details.)

Dance

• UCLS is offering bellydancing again with instructor Beatriz Ross. Beatriz will be offering bellydance classes for both adults and seniors at the on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings starting on January 9. (See page 33 for more details.)

View the Winter/Spring 2012 Activity Guide online here or download the pdf here.