Leisure Services Offers New Classes, Returning Favorites This Fall

Union City Leisure Services' Fall/Holiday guide for 2012 is here! The upcoming city-sponsored programs include new classes and returning favorites, including Cheerleading, Cricket for Youth, Bollywood Dance and lots more!

Chris Valuckas, recreation supervisor for UCLS, shares some of the highlights for the Fall and Holiday seasons:

Special Events

• Paddy’s Coffeehouse and Union City Leisure Services Proudly Present the 1st Annual Tom Cain Memorial Photography Contest. This contest was formerly the annual Union City photo contest but we have changed it to celebrate the memory of Tom Cain, who lived in Union City for most of his life and loved to take pictures. He took his camera with him wherever he went and was known in the community as Union City’s resident photographer. Our annual photo contest and exhibit has been renamed to honor Tom’s memory and his love of photography. This contest is open to any Bay Area resident ages 14 years or older. (See page 3 for more details.)

• We'll be having our annual Halloween Carnival on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Holly Community Center. This event is a tradition with UCLS and brings hundreds of kids and their parents each year. Participants are treated to a haunted house, treats, carnival games, prizes and a costume contest for trick or treaters ages 3-12. Tickets are $5 before the event and they go on sale on Oct. 8. (See page 3 for more details.)

• UCLS will be holding its 4th Annual Holiday Showcase at Ruggieri Senior Center on Friday, Dec. 7 from 6 – 8 p.m.  This event showcases all of our wonderful fee class programs for youth, teens and adults. (See page 3 for more details.)

Tots

• UCLS is proud to continue to offer 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 7 for more details.)

Youth

• UCLS is excited to offer a new cheerleading class for youth ages 9 and up at the Ruggieri Center on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:15 p.m. starting on Oct. 2. These classes will help aspiring cheerleaders learn how to cheer, dance and jump like a professional! (See page 12 for more details.)

• UCLS will be offering tennis classes for youth, teens and adults starting on Monday, Sept. 10 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at the . UCLS will also be offering private and semi private lessons as well. (See page 20 for more details.)

• UCLS will be offering its first ever Youth Cricket program at Sea Breeze Park starting on Sept. 20 at 9:30 a.m. This class will teach aspiring youth how to become elite cricket players on the renowned cricket pitch in Union City! (See page 17 for more details.)

Adult Classes

• UCLS will be partnering with Shugyo Aikido Dojo, who offers Aikido, which is a non-violent martial art. Aikido provides excellent physical and mental conditioning, enabling a person under attack to assume control over the situation without giving in to the creation of violence. Classes start Sept. 1 at the Shugyo Aikido Dojo off of Western Ave. in Union City. (See page 25 for more details.)

Special Needs

• UCLS and Special Olympics will be holding soccer and bowling programs for athletes with special needs ages 8 and up. UCLS will be once again teaming up with to offer a Halloween Dance in October at the . UC Clubhouse will have a lot of exciting activities coming up for this fall, including two awesome field trips. (See page 15 for more details.)
  

Dance/Fitness

• UCLS is offering a Booty Beat Fitness class through Flirty Girl Fitness that combines Zumba, strength training, intense cardio exercise and dance choreography that will have you feel the burn in no time! This class is offered Monday through Thursday at the Kennedy Center from 6 – 7 p.m. for a monthly fee of $45 per month. Drop-ins are also welcome. (See page 29 for more details.)

• UCLS is proud to be offering Bollywood Dance classes with instructor Sunita Raj at the Holly Community Center starting on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.  Sunita will be offering classes for students as young as three and also for adults. (See page 33 for more details.)