Sometimes adult children coming home are a good thing. Our soldier son, Brett, has returned from his second tour in Iraq and just finished his commitment of 5 years for the Army. He has returned home from Fort Hood, Texas, with all his 'stuff' that now occupies several rooms. But Denise and I don't seem to mind. As the economy and CA politics and summer trips and work related challenges dominate our news, my mind continues to wander to the Middle East and the soldiers stationed there and around the world. May God bless and protect each of them.
1) You know how original ideas are basically stolen from others. I asked staff to look at having a stimulus package of our own that could be patterned after the City of Placentia (who got it from another city!). I always talk about 'Shop Chino Hills First', so we should really encourage every resident to go to our local business before venturing outside the city boundary. Hence, we would offer a possible $5 off coupon to a household for any $15 item to be used in a participating CH business. The program would need funding. That is an issue since we want more foot traffic in our businesses but don't want them to loose cash. Therefore we would back fill the $5 purchase.
2) Something new for our community is the opening of Larios Meat Market locating into the former site of the Art and Frame Store at the Big Lots center. I am excited to check out this family owned and operated store which had a nice write - up in the paper.
3) Scoreboards are being installed at Chino Hills Community Park through the wonderful donations of: Chino Hills Pony and Comerica Bank at the Shoppes. Each paid for two! CH Girls Softball and "L" Monty Body Shop (yes, they are located in El Monte and paid for one). Each scoreboard was $4K. The cost of installation is around $22K and part of our budget. Thank you and the future players thank you too.
4) Online registration for our Recreation Department is now available. Visit www.chinohills.org and be directed to our new online site where you can register for Recreation Activities, Special Events, and much more. You are also able to view your household account, print out receipts, pay balances owed, and even print out a household calendar which displays the dates and times of activities you have registered for.
5) On Wednesdays the Farmer's Market runs from 4 - 8 p.m. at our very own Government Center on City Center Drive near the Parking Structure. There will be vendors providing fresh produce including fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers, peanuts, beef jerky, humus and other stuff.
6) I am a huge admirer of local non profits that have a 501(c3) status. One in particular, "Caring for the Hills", is in dire need of assistance. They are a legit group that needs canned food for families in our area. So from May 1 - 18 they are taking donations and canned food. Call the director, Judy Rogers (909 - 573 - 1454) or notify me and I can send you the collection sites.
7) At the Shoppes on Friday nights in May is the "Spring Cinema under the Stars". Our Recreation Department and the Shoppes will present to family and friends a series of fun flicks under the stars. Bring your blankets and lounge chairs. Movies will begin around 7:45pm.
8) The pain of the school closings announced by the School Board is felt by all of us and the ensuing boundary readjustments will also be difficult. As a city we have an interest in making sure the buildings are not idle. As a councilmember I understand the need of the Board to act, but I would not have done the same process. But again, I am not privileged to the same info as they are.
9) Have you wandered around the new Chino Hills library? It's impressive without being ostentatious. The brand new Chino Hills Community Foundation is holding a fundraiser on June 6th to provide more amenities for the children's section. Email me and I will send you the details. Open to all.
10) Maybe we too, can soon be proud to see a "trash free" 71? A resident said we should emulate Arizona and get prisoners to clean the freeways. I though it was an idea worth exploring so who knows, the powers that be might approve it.
11) I did something I swore I would never do since I hate 'dress up' costume type of affairs. Yes, I participated in the Civil War re - enactment held at Pardo Park last month. It was educational and really pretty 'kool'. The lengths these reenactors go to emulate the time period is impressive. I encourage you to attend next year to wander around the camps, visit the booths, and see a little action. You will see me as Boy #5 (I run up to the canon to hand the charge to #2 on a canon unit and run back to get ready for the next shot). I was recently at the new Gettysburg Battlefield Museum so I knew my role.
12) To check your state refund status go to the following: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/refund/index.asp
13) Mow Down Air Pollution. Several years ago I participated in this program to exchange my gas lawn mower to an electric one and it has worked for me. This year the 2009 Electric Lawn Mower Exchange is on May 9th in Rancho and June 27th in Anaheim. Registration is a must at www.aqmd.gov or call 888 - 425 - 6247. You must show proof of residency.
14) The city has been sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt for years. Did you know that 12,000 eggs are spread so the six different age groups can have some memories? The city also sponsored a Youth Track Meet and 650 students show up. Impressive.
15) Our Sierra snow pack was doing better than average until the dry March and April months hit. The mountain snow pack stands at 82 percent of normal, according to the state Department of Water Resources. Given the low water levels in the state's key reservoirs, the snow pack needs to be 120 to 130 percent to catch up to normal. Water rationing could be on its way. On a related note, MWD has decided to raise its rates every 6 months instead of yearly to capture the real cost of importing water to So Cal.
16) Ayala HS will get some traffic relief as the city traffic committee approved curbside student drop - off at the north side of Boys Republic Drive in the Shoppes location to relieve traffic on Peyton. The lines and signage will be installed soon. Also, the principal of Oakridge Elementary requested no stopping signs along the southeastern side of Valle Vista Drive in front of his school to enable traffic to squeeze past vehicles waiting to turn left into the school.
17) I am not making a stand on liquor, just the fact that industries adapt to keep from being taxed by government. Last month I had reported that the State Board of Equalization decided to raise money by increasing the tax on malt beverage to match the tax on distilled spirits. So that tax jumped from $.20 per gallon to $3.30 per gallon. To meet that increase the beverage companies have changed their formulas so as not to be considered a 'malt' beverage. Because of the changed formula, the tax raised so far is a miserly $6k. In response, the State BOE, on a 3 - 2 vote, approved $250K for one year to study the chemical composition of flavored malt beverages. An employee would be in charge for overseeing and implementing the requirements of the new BOE malt regulations. Hmmm.
18) Starbucks is closing numerous stores in CA and two are going down in CH.
Feel free to call, email, or stop me in any store/restaurant.
Yours in service, Ed
