By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
School is out and Artesia’s youngsters have been set loose. The City of Artesia Recreation Department is offering a smorgasbord of summer activities and programs as solutions for parents looking to funnel their children’s energy in a positive and productive direction.
The 2010 City of Artesia Summer Recreation Program themed “Blast from the Past” will begin June 7 and run through July 30, and will cater to children 6 years of age and older. Sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.
Artesia Recreation Director Luis Reyes said in addition to planned activities, supervision will be provided for self-directed, unstructured play from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
A registration fee of $35 includes a T-shirt, entrance to a dance and pool party and prizes. Activities will include games, arts and crafts, board games, gym activities and exploring the past. To register, visit the Artesia Community Center.

From left, Mary Ford, Carolyn Morse, Anita Ortiz, Juanita Salazar and Sandra Aguero work at a polling station at Faith Baptist Church during the primary election Tuesday. Pollworkers volunteered their time and spent 12-14 hours at their stations.

A yellow ribbon hangs on a tree limb outside Artesia City Hall, where a memorial service was held Monday in recognition of Memorial Day. Flags were placed around Baish Park in front of City Hall honoring Artesia’s members of the American Legion.

A young child cools off at the Splash Pad during MainStreet’s annual School’s Out Summer Splash at Martin Luther King Park Friday afternoon. The summer splash hosted a variety of activities to kick off the summer, including cooling down at the splash pad, getting soaked by water from a fire truck, playing in the mud, hanging around on the jungle gym, playing basketball and doing tricks at the skate park.

The  Artesia Headstart Transition Ceremony was held at the school inside the multi-purpose room on Wednesday. During the ceremony, students performed songs and danced to music. Pictured from left, Diego Zamarron, Janette Villarreal, Benjamin Reza, Alexis Perez and Dylan Fisher sit on a ‘log’ while wearing frog hats and pretending to eat bugs during the song “Five Green and Speckled Frogs.”

City Recreation Director Louie Reyes speaks to a group of students from Yucca Elementary (who were anxious to try out the Splash Pad) on the importance of water safety and conservation Tuesday at Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex Splash Pad. “Water is very important — we can’t live without it — that’s why we’ve got to make sure we conserve it,” said Reyes. Certified pool operator and supervisor of the water system which powers the Splash Pad, Jacob Mendoza, demonstrated to the children how he tests the water to ensure its safety.  “I test the water six times a day … to make sure it is safe for you guys,” said Mendoza. He also said the water’s PH is constantly tested by regulator before it is pumped out to the features.  The Splash Pad will open for the summer at 2 p.m. Friday. Throughout the season, the pad will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday until Labor Day weekend. A summer recreation program registration will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. during the opening of the Splash Pad. For more information, contact Reyes at 746-9009.

Yucca Elementary School fourth grade students (from back) Lupe Ortiz, Jordan Cataño, Gracie Puentes and Elisa Cardenas wait in line to get a Sprite as they prepare to watch Shrek 4 this morning outside the Land of the Sun movie theater. Third, fourth and fifth graders from Yucca attended the movie as an end of the year field trip.

Characters from various public safety agencies attended an assembly Friday at Grand Heights Early Childhood Center to teach students about safety. Pictured, McGruff, members of the New Mexico State Police (NMSP), students, teachers and assistants pose for a photograph at Grand Heights school after the children receive information from NMSP on crime scenes.

Grand Heights Early Childhood Center held graduation for several hundred kindergarten students Thursday evening at the Artesia High School auditorium. Graduates performed musical numbers and danced for family members and friends in the audience prior to receiving their diplomas. Pictured, Ashlynn Pearson, daughter of Chris and Dee Anne Pearson, shows off her sense of fashion as she makes her way back to her seat after receiving a diploma from Principal Lisa Robinson. Ashlynn’s aunt Stephanie Salinas crafted a special black and flourescent yellow dress, complete with hand-tied bows and customized rhinestone shoes for the young lady to wear for the important occasion.