Solera Gazette

St. Mary moving ahead with new local hospital

2012-01-29T06:57:00.000-08:00

St. Mary Medical Center has unveiled plans for a $260-million, 249,000-square foot hospital campus and trauma center along Interstate 15 in Victorville. Rumors that the new hospital project would be delayed while St. Mary’s seeks to acquire bankrupt Victor Valley Community Hospital are simply not true said, Larry Woodard, vice President of St. Mary Medical Foundation.

“Nothing could be further from the truth; we are looking at purchasing Victor Valley Hospital and that is not stopping us from building the new hospital,” Woodward told the Apple Valley Rotary Club in unveiling the ambitious plans.

Kevin Mahany, director of advocacy and healthy communities,said the new hospital will include a trauma center — something the High Desert has sorely needed for decades. “We'll also be the only trauma center between Las Vegas and the San Bernardino area,” Mahany said. “Time is critical when it comes to caring for the severely injured.” The grading and permit process should begin in March, with hospital construction slated to start January 2014.
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Inland Empire unemployment rate drops to 12.2 percent

2012-01-26T02:35:00.000-08:00

The Inland Empire's unemployment rate fell to 12.2 percent last month as employers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties added 5,200 non farm jobs, state officials reported Friday. The region's unemployment rate was at 12.5 percent in November, according to the state's Employment Development Department.

The state's numbers showed similar improvements for job markets in the Los Angeles area and California as a whole. Although unemployment remains well above pre-recession levels, unemployment rates have trended downward since the past summer. The most significant obstacles to quicker job growth, in his opinion, are a surplus of homes that is preventing a comeback for the construction industry and high levels of political animosity.

In San Bernardino and Riverside counties combined, the unemployment rate has fallen since July, Beacon's analysis of the state's numbers show. The Los Angeles area's jobless rate has fallen since October and the state's nonemployment rate has improved since September.

In Los Angeles County, the December unemployment rate stood at 11.8 percent, down by 0.1 point from the previous months. California recorded an 11.1 percent jobless rate, down from 11.3 percent in November.

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_19783926#ixzz1kYk4EFcn

Apple Valley, Hesperia plants to advance Thursday

2012-01-26T02:05:00.000-08:00

Apple Valley and Hesperia will likely move one step closer to accessing valuable reclaimed water Thursday, as the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority's board of directors considers a recommendation to start prequalifying contractors for subregional plants in each city.

If that motion is approved at Thursday morning’s meeting, VVWRA spokesman Ryan Orr said the agency hopes to have bids back by early September, get a notice to proceed by the end of the year and start construction in early 2013. Construction is expected to take two years, for a planned 2015 opening.

The Hesperia plant is being planned east of Interstate 15, near Maple Avenue and Eucalyptus Street, while the Apple Valley plant is expected to take out the southwest corner of Lenny Brewster Park. Both locations drew some protest from area residents but were ultimately approved in light of the benefits supporters say they will bring to the larger community.

For the last six years, Victorville has had exclusive access to the recycled water coming from VVWRA’s regional plant simply because of logistics. The subregionals will bring recycled water to these communities, while costing less than replacing aging infrastructure that directs flows from Hesperia and Apple Valley to the existing Victorville site.
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on the Current Political Scene

2012-01-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

I'll just give my entirely unadorned perspective of the current right-wing scene. It might seem rash and unpleasant, but it is what seems to me after years of puzzling on the situation from the perspective of "I can't understand why they are not doing their best for the nation".

The entire right wing is composed of perhaps four groups...
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Free Tax Preparation Services

2012-01-24T21:00:00.001-08:00

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day & Free Tax Preparation Services

The 2011 Tax Season is starting up and the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) wants to remind residents of San Bernardino County about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Friday, Jan. 27th is EITC Awareness Day. Every penny counts in today's economy, yet many working people are overlooking this important tax credit that could put up to $5,751 into their pockets. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a financial boost for working people hit by hard economic times.

To find out more about EITC and the Free Tax Preparation Program VITA, the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and the VITA Coalition will be holding an EITC Awareness Day on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at the Public Housing Authority Building at 672 S. Waterman Ave. in San Bernardino from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Come learn about FREE tax preparation services, how to qualify for a refund of up to $5,751 in EITC and other helpful resources. There will be prizes, giveaways and refreshments.

Many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because of changes in income, marital status or family size. Bigger families with three or more children get an extra boost with a larger credit this year.

The IRS estimates four of five eligible workers get their EITC. We want to raise that number to five out of five. However, workers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns - even if they are not otherwise required to file - and specifically claim the credit.

Anyone with earnings under about $46,000 from wages, self-employment or farming in 2011, should see if they qualify. They earned it. Now they just need to file and claim it. Even if you did not have children living with you and earned less than about $13,600, you could qualify.

San Bernardino County residents can get their taxes done for FREE through the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County VITA program. For an appointment, call 909-723-1561. The Free Tax Preparation program is available through April 17th, 2012.

To help accurately determine their EITC eligibility and prepare their returns, individuals should bring:

*Photo proof of identification
*Social Security cards for themselves, their spouse and dependents or Social Security number verification letters issued by the Social Security Administration
*Birth dates for all persons listed on the tax return
*Wage and earning statement(s) Forms W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R, from all employers
*Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
*Copies of last year's federal and state returns, if available
*Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of their refunds
*Other relevant information about income and expenses
*Amounts paid for day care, if applicable and the day care provider's identifying number.

To electronically file their returns and get the fastest refunds, both spouses must be present to sign joint returns.

EITC has been making the lives of working people a little easier for 37 years. Today, more than ever, hard-working individuals need to be aware of programs like EITC.

Call for More Info 909-723-1561

Inland Empire unemployment rate drops to 12.2 percent

2012-01-21T03:48:00.000-08:00

THE ECONOMY FOR AVERAGE FOLKS WILL NOT IMPROVE UNTIL THEY CAN GET JOBS.

The Inland Empire's unemployment rate fell to 12.2 percent last month as employers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties added 5,200 non farm jobs, state officials reported Friday. The region's unemployment rate was at 12.5 percent in November, according to the state's Employment Development Department.

The state's numbers showed similar improvements for job markets in the Los Angeles area and California as a whole. Although unemployment remains well above pre-recession levels, unemployment rates have trended downward since the past summer.

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_19783926#ixzz1k5nv3g2X

Housing sales rising; Southern California markets still sluggish Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_19759422#ixzz1jo4vqsv9

2012-01-18T03:03:00.000-08:00

A December jump for home sales is certainly not bad news for Southern California real estate markets, but not necessarily a sign of an energetic resurgence in either sales volumes or prices.

"We're doing extremely well, but I don't think the market is doing that well," said Darryl Spellacy, owner of San Bernardino-based Spellacy and Associates Realtors. "It is moving, but it is moving very slow." Spellacy said his own confidence stems from nearly four decades' worth of contacts at his firm leading to referrals and repeat business. In a broader sense, however, he is not counting on any dramatic upswings this year for Southern California real estate.

His view of a still-sluggish housing market roughly mirrors the analysis at DataQuick Information Systems, a La Jolla-based company that tracks real estate values. The word from DataQuick is that the real estate markets often jump a bit from November to December because investors try to close deals before year's end.

Taking that into account, the marketplace is still affected by many of the conditions that existed last year, such as the relative difficulty for buyers to obtain credit and investors purchasing homes at the low end of the price spectrum. That does not mean, however, that prices are destined for a fall.

"Some of the economic vital signs have improved lately and it's sparked a renewed sense of optimism in housing circles," DataQuick President John Walsh said in a statement. "Coupled with incredibly low mortgage rates, it certainly suggests that 2012 might offer the rock bottom for pricing that many buyers and sellers have been looking for."

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_19759422#ixzz1jo4r5FPc

Pageviews: Jan 9 – Jan 16, 2012

2012-01-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

2012 Jan 9 13:00 – 2012 Jan 16 12:00

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New bidder for Victorville hospital

2012-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

A new bidder has made an offer to buy Victor Valley Community Hospital, which has been in bankruptcy since 2010.

Leaders of St. Mary Medical Center, which is in Apple Valley, have made a $35 million offer to the Victorville hospital's board. The offer also includes a $25 million pledge for facilities improvements at Victor Valley.

St. Mary leaders submitted the bid to prevent a High Desert hospital from closing and to help relieve crowding at its own facility, spokesman Randy Bevilacqua said. "We believe those beds are greatly needed in the High Desert, and Victor Valley takes care of a great variety of poor and needy in the High Desert," he said.

St. Mary Medical Center is part of St. Joseph Health System and has 206 beds. The Apple Valley hospital treats some 80,000 emergency-room patients and 14,000 inpatient admissions each year.

Victor Valley Community Hospital has 101 beds.

St. Mary's offer now goes to Victor Valley Community Hospital's lawyers for further review, Victor Valley spokeswoman Lovella Sullivan said. For St. Mary's to buy the hospital, its bid must survive review in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the office of California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Previous bidders for the Victorville hospital include a foundation affiliated with Ontario- based Prime Healthcare Services. Prime's foundation bid $31.5 million for the Victor Valley hospital.
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Chili cook-off to benefit animals at municipal shelter

2012-01-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Apple Valley, CA. January 10, 2012: It’s going to be chili in more ways than one on Sunday, January 22 when the Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter hosts its Second Annual Chili Cook-off at Frogee’s Cocktail Lounge at 21820 Highway 18 in Apple Valley.

Entrants are encouraged to cook up their best pot of chili for public tasting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds benefit the animals at the municipal animal shelter.

“We host a number of events each year to benefit the animals in our local shelter. The chili cook-off is a fun and delicious way to help the animals find forever homes,” explained Animal Care Specialist Levi James. “Proceeds help reduce the cost of adoption fees, provide medical care for animals that come in sick or injured, support low-cost spay/neuter clinics and much more.”

Registration fees are only $5 per recipe and are due by January 20 to the Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter located at 22131 Powhatan Road at Quinault Road.

Call the shelter at (760) 240-7000 x7555 or visit www.AVAnimals.org for additional information.

2012 rabies vaccination clinics scheduled

2012-01-12T12:46:00.001-08:00

Apple Valley, CA – January 10, 2012: The Apple Valley Animal Services Department has announced the 2012 schedule for its low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. The first session will be held at the Town’s municipal animal shelter on February 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Rabies shots are $6 each and other vaccines are available at a reduced cost. Microchip services are only $20. Cash only please. Same-day license renewal is offered for town residents only.

Additional vaccination clinics have been scheduled every other month in 2012:

Saturday, April 7 – 10 a.m. to noon
Wednesday, June 6 – 5 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 1 – 5 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 3 – 5 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 5 – 5 to 7 p.m.

The municipal animal shelter is located at 22131 Powhatan Road just east of Quinault Road.

Seniors and disabled residents of Apple Valley who are unable to transport their pets to an animal hospital or vaccination clinic are encouraged to schedule an appointment for the clinic to come to them.

Animal Services will offer a “Shelter on the Stray” mobile vaccination clinic January 21, July 21 and November 17 for cats and dogs between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clients must call to schedule an appointment.

Vaccination pricing ranges from $6 to $15. Low-income families may also qualify. Contact the Town of Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter for details at (760) 240-7000 x7555 or visit www.AVAnimals.org.

History Program at Victor Valley Museum

2012-01-10T13:08:00.001-08:00

How do older technologies stack up against today’s electronic gadgetry? Find out in an interactive presentation, “How Did They Use That,” with San Bernardino County Museum Curator of History Michele Nielsen at the Victor Valley Museum on Friday, January 13 at 1:00 p.m. The presentation is included in paid museum admission.

“This is a great opportunity for visitors of all ages to explore technology over time,” said Nielsen. “Together we’ll look at historic objects from the museum’s study collections and see just how well they worked for the jobs they were meant to do—tasks that may or may not be part of today’s world. Come try your hand at an old-fashioned way to make a tasty treat, and explore written communication before the personal computer.”

The Victor Valley Museum is at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. Admission is $5 (adult), $4 (senior or military), and $2.50 (student. Children under 5 and San Bernardino County Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.

Apple Valley looks to 2012

2012-01-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

“Apple Valley is one of the least expensive cities for business in California, which is certainly encouraging for continued growth and increased sales tax potential,” newly appointed Mayor Barb Stanton said in an emailed response.

Launching construction of the Yucca Loma Bridge, groundbreaking for a new training center and completion of a stalled housing project are all on the horizon for the town of Apple Valley in 2012.

After years of delay, the Happy Trails Villas will be one of the bright spots for the town, with occupants expected to move in by April, according to Kirsten McKinnon director of sales. The town contributed $2.1 million in federal funds to help complete the for-sale town homes. The gated community will offer 2,000-square-foot homes geared for first-time home buyers and those who fall into the $30,000 to $93,000 income range.

Extending across the Mojave River, the Yucca Loma Bridge project will open an additional route between Apple Valley and Victorville. The $75 million project has met with unexpected delays. But in December, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors agreed to fund up to $3.4 million for drainage improvements necessary for construction and the project is expected to begin construction by late summer.

Grading for the new Walmart Supercenter will begin by February after final plans checks have been completed, according to a town report. Situated on the corner of Dale Evans Parkway and Thunderbird Road, the town approved the project last January but was hindered a few months later when Walmart was threatened by litigation. The council then approved the project as it stood in May without sending it to the ballot.

Located next to the Walmart distribution center, the Victor Valley College Public Safety Training Center should be ready for operation by spring, according to Apple Valley Fire Protection District Chief Art Bishop. The $32 million center is designed to train VVC student for careers in firefighting, paramedic, police and corrections, with the facility available to public safety agencies across Southern California.
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Metro and Caltrans announce public meetings for the proposed 63-mile High Desert Corridor

2012-01-09T19:55:00.001-08:00

Four community update meetings are scheduled Jan. 24, 26, 31 and Feb. 1 in the Antelope Valley and Victor Valley. The Victorville meeting on Jan. 31 is scheduled to be streamed live on metro.net/HDC, making the meeting available for viewing and accessible for online public participation.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are hosting four community update meetings for the High Desert Corridor (HDC) project.

The proposed 63-mile corridor under study to link Antelope Valley with Victor Valley is currently in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR) preparation phase, which began in late 2010. The HDC project proposes construction of a new east-west freeway/expressway linking State Route SR-14 in Los Angeles County with SR-18 in San Bernardino County.

Based on the feedback received at previous meetings and further technical analysis, the project team will present results from the Alternatives Analysis Report and updates on potential alignments, variations, and next steps.

The new freeway/expressway connection between Antelope Valley and Victor Valley would link some of the fastest residential, commercial and industrial growth areas in Southern California, including the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Adelanto, Victorville and the Town of Apple Valley. In addition to addressing the issue of growth, the HDC project will address traffic safety and support the growing need to move goods through the region.

The following meetings are being held to present the information gathered during the environmental process now underway:

Lake Los Angeles: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, 6 - 8 p.m., Twin Lakes Community Church, 17213 Lake Los Angeles Ave,. Palmdale, CA 93591
Palmdale: Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, 6 - 8 p.m., Larry Chimbole Center , 38350 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550
Victorville: Tuesday, Jan, 31, 2012, 6 - 8 p.m., Town of Apple Valley Town Council Chambers, 14343 Civic Drive, Victorville, CA 92392 Streamed live on metro.net/HDC!
Adelanto: Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012, 6 - 8 p.m., Stater Bros Stadium, Mavericks Conference Room, 1200 Stadium Way, Adelanto, CA 92301

Content presented at these meetings will be identical and in the following format: Open house session from 6 to 6:30 p.m.; presentations from 6:30 to 7 p.m., and questions and comments from 7 to 8 p.m.

For those unable to attend a meeting in person, the Victorville meeting on Jan. 31 is scheduled to be streamed live on metro.net/HDC, making the meeting available for viewing and accessible for online public participation. Link directly at www.ustream.tv/channel/metro-high-desert-corridor

For additional background and information, a live webinar of a discussion on the status of the High Desert Corridor study presented Nov. 4 can reviewed online at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18305407.

Special accommodations are available to the public for Metro-sponsored meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Telephone the project information line at 888.252.7433 or call the California Relay Service at 711. The TDD line for hearing-impaired is 800.252.9040.

A copy of the Alternatives Analysis Report is available online athttp://www.metro.net/projects_studies/hdc/images/HDC_Alternatives_Analysis.pdf

Follow us on Twitter @metrohdc and facebook.com/metrohdc. For more information, call888.252.7433 or visitwww.metro.net/hdc.

Victorville defaults on bonds

2012-01-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

Victorville City Manager Doug Robertson said the city's November default on bond payments totaling $10.6 million has not prompted an inquiry from a federal agency that has been investigating the city's bond debt for the last two years.
In an e-mail, Robertson said investigators from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not made any inquiries about the defaults thus far, but he is expecting they will.

The city received a notice from the Bank of New York Mellon, dated Dec. 16, indicating it had failed to pay a total of $535,000 in principal payments that were due on Dec. 1. The bank, which holds the city's reserve funds in trust, said reserve funds could not be used to make payments on the principal.

The city was, however, able to use the reserve funds to cover interest on the bonds totaling $1.3 million. In 2010, the SEC launched an investigation into the city's bond debt and how it spent the money, and the investigation has now entered its third year.

On Dec. 1, debt service payments for seven bonds the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority, or SCLAA, took out came due. The SCLAA, of which Robertson serves as executive director,is the redevelopment agency that secures funding and oversees development of the 2,500-acre airport, formerly the George Air Force Base, which the city envisions as its future economic engine that will drive growth.

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TROUT FISHING DERBIES

2012-01-04T09:21:00.001-08:00

EVENTS – January and February at San Bernardino County Regional Parks:

TROUT FISHING DERBIES – The County San Bernardino Regional Parks holds competitive fishing derbies at their five lakes through the season. In December 2011, 306 anglers vied for $1000 in cash and other prizes at the Cucamonga-Guasti fishing derby in Ontario. The winner and runner-up each hooked and landed monster rainbow trout weighing more than 10 pounds apiece - and the top five fish from the derby combined totaled more than a whopping 38 pounds!

The next trout fishing derbies will be held:

January 7, 2012 at Yucaipa Regional Park, 33900 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa.

February 11, 2012 at Prado Regional Park, 16700 S. Euclid Ave., Chino.

The derbies begin promptly at 7 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Park gates will open at 6 a.m.

Participants must have a valid California State fishing license. Derby entry is $15 per person, plus $10 vehicle entry into the park. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/parks or call (909) 38-PARKS.

JUNIOR FISHING WORKSHOPS – Parents looking for a unique experience for their children will find that a Junior Fishing Workshop at a County of San Bernardino Regional Park just might be the answer for that much needed ‘breather’ in the great outdoors.

The next Junior Fishing Workshops will be held:

January 21, 2012 at Prado Regional Park, 16700 S. Euclid Ave., Chino.

February 4, 2012 at Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy., San Bernardino

February 18, 2012 at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, 800 N. Archibald Ave., Ontario

Workshops begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m.

Boys and girls ages 7 to 13 will learn this favorite outdoor pastime under the instruction of expert teachers. The junior anglers will rotate through five hands-on stations, learning the basics of lake-shore fishing, including the anatomy of a fish; what gear to use and knot-tying; rules and safe practices; cleaning, cooking, and tasting; and tips for casting and catching.

Once the kids have completed the organized training, they can check-out a fishing rod and reel and practice their new skills at the lake. Each participant also gets their very own event t-shirt at the end of the workshop.

All equipment and tackle is provided for each child with the $7 registration fee. There is a $10 vehicle entry on the day of the event.

For registration deadlines or additional information on the Junior Fishing Workshop, contact (909) 387-2461. Registration forms can be obtained online by visiting the parks website at www.sbcounty.gov/parks.

TROUT SEASON – For fishermen (and fisher-ladies) who don’t want to compete for the catch, fishing is available at the following regional parks: Yucaipa, Mojave Narrows (Victorville), Prado (Chino), Glen Helen (Devore), Cucamonga-Guasti (Ontario), Lake Gregory (Crestline), and Moabi (Colorado River).

The trout season opened November 11, 2011 and the County of San Bernardino Regional Parks stocks their five lakes every Thursday through April 19, 2012. Large fish are brought in each week. Lake Gregory and Moabi Regional parks are not stocked with fish.

CALICO GHOST TOWN CIVIL WAR WEEKEND – While the old west participated in the U.S. Civil War indirectly and from afar, and largely concerned itself with matters other than the war – including mining – fierce battles raged in the southern and eastern regions of the nation. However, the rugged dusty hills and sagebrush of Calico Ghost Town lends itself fitting as a stage for Civil War re-enactments.

Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 18-20, 2012, is when it all hits home in our local Calico Ghost Town with three full days of re-enactments of the battles, bugles, and banjos of the Civil War era.

More than 300 members of the American Civil War Society become the rival armies of the Union and the Confederacy. Visitors will get a first-hand experience of the day – they can visit soldiers’ campsites see how the troops lived during this era; watch processions of cavalry troopers and horses thunder into town; view formal troop inspections and military drills conducted twice daily; and they must not miss the spectacle of the battles (not that the boom of cannon fire will let them miss it). In addition, walk among the fashions of the day paraded by the men and women and enjoy live music of 1860’s. The weekend promises non-stop Civil War activities, including appearances by Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg address each day of the event.

Calico Ghost Town offers RV and tent camping, as well as cabin and bunkhouse rental. To reserve camping, book online atwww.sbcountyparks.com. For cabins and bunkhouse reservations call (800) 86-CALICO.

Daily admission for the Civil War event is $10 adults; $5 ages 6-15. Children 5 and under are FREE. A two-day pass is available for $15 adults; $8 ages 6-15. Visit www.calicotown.com for detailed information.

Kathi Payne

Media & Community Outreach

County of San Bernardino Regional Parks

(909) 387-2326 office

(909) 380-4446 cell

kpayne@parks.sbcounty.gov

Christmas tree disposal

2011-12-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

Ph: (760)240-7000 x 7070 E-mail: kmartin@applevalley.org

Could your Christmas tree us a “pick me up?”

Apple Valley, CA – December 21, 2011: Once the presents are unwrapped and the needles start to drop, it’s time to give your Christmas tree a proper retirement. You don’t have to haul it off to a local drop-off point or dump it in the desert. Apple Valley residents can simply put their tree by the curb and AVCO Disposal will pick up Christmas trees between December 27 and January 6 on regular trash service days.

There are three simple steps to take:

1) Remove all decorations, tinsel and stands

2) Cut the tree in half

3) Place it curbside on your regular trash service day

The clean trees will be collected for grinding and composting. This practice conserves landfill space and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Please note that flocked trees cannot be composted, so they must be cut in half and placed in the green trash barrel for regular disposal. Questions may be directed to AVCO Disposal at (760) 245-8607.

Free 2012 Town of Apple Valley Community Calendars available

2011-12-21T18:10:00.001-08:00

Get all the information you need, all in one place with the 2012 Town of Apple Valley Community Calendar! The free calendar includes tips on taking pride in the environment and community, as well as a complete resource directory with phone numbers for everything from abandoned vehicles to weed control. It also features the recipe for the 2012 Official Apple Pie of Apple Valley chosen at the Apple Valley Fall Festival.

Copies are available at Town Hall, Animal Shelter, the Apple Valley Golf Course and the Chamber of Commerce.

Town of Apple Valley
14955 Dale Evans Parkway · Apple Valley, California 92307
Contact: Kathie Martin, Marketing and Public Affairs Officer
Ph: (760)240-7000 x 7070 Fax: (760)961-6242 E-mail: kmartin@applevalley.org

Most Town departments close for holiday observance - Dec 2011

2011-12-20T18:31:00.001-08:00

Apple Valley Town Hall will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2 for the holiday season. The Town will reopen on Tuesday, January 3. The Police Department will operate as usual. Essential services will still be performed and building inspections only will be offered Friday, December 23 and 27 to 30 during the closure.

In case of emergency: For life-threatening emergencies please call 9-1-1. For emergencies concerning sewer, water, flooding, traffic signs or signals, vicious dogs, dogs with life-threatening injuries, or emergencies regarding a town facility, please call the Town after-hours dispatch number at (760) 961-6001.

Househould Hazardous Waste Collection Center will be closed December 24 and December 31 and will reopen January 7.

The Town of Apple Valley Animal Shelter will be open on a modified schedule from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays between December 23 and 30. For animal emergencies outside these hours call the Town dispatch number at (760) 961-6001. Calls for service will be screened to determine urgency. Special arrangements will be made for turning in strays or picking up lost pets at the shelter or in the field. If your pet gets loose, contact the shelter immediately at 240-7000 x 7555; leave a message with a complete description and contact information. If your pet has been turned in to the shelter and the shelter is contacted, but the pet cannot be returned immediately you will not be charged for boarding that day. This does not include the holidays or weekends.

The Town Council approved this holiday closure to save operating costs as well as reduce paid leave liability. For non-emergency inquiries we encourage the public to visit our HOMEPAGE and click "Let us Know."

Souplantation - eat healthy!

2011-12-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

I love Souplantation -- and their coupons
http://dealspl.us/souplantation-coupons/354191p

Inland Empire's Industrial Vacancy Decreases to 7.7%

2011-12-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

The vacancy rate was down over the previous quarter, with net absorption totaling positive 2,189,539 square feet in the third quarter. Vacant sublease space decreased in the quarter, ending the quarter at 1,109,216 square feet. Rental rates ended the third quarter at $4.83, a decrease over the previous quarter.

This trend is compared to the U.S. national industrial vacancy rate, which decreased to 9.6% from the previous quarter, with net absorption positive 43.11 million square feet in the third quarter.

The American Museum of Ceramic Art - Pomona

2011-12-11T05:52:00.000-08:00

The American Museum of Ceramic Art presents an examination of both the cohesiveness and the diversification found within the Los Angeles-area, post-World War II, clay community. More than 300 ceramic objects created or designed by 53 artists working in studios, classrooms, or industrial environments illustrate the tremendous growth and experimentation in ceramics at this specific time. In isolating these mid-century changes, it is understandable that some works are not representative of the best or mature work of the artist. Instead, works were chosen to speak to the social, philosophical, and economic factors that affected ceramic design, styles, instruction, and trends.

Plane Crazy Saturday! Saturday, December 17, 2011

2011-12-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Calling all Rutan designed aircraft!
We want the flightline filled with canards!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!! -- Come one – come all!!
December 17, 2011 -- Mojave Air & Spaceport

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EPIC ROUND-THE-WORLD, UNREFUELED VOYAGER FLIGHT!!
Plane Crazy Saturday sponsored by the Mojave Transportation Museum Foundation will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the historic Voyager Aircraft flight accomplished in 1986! This will be a grand opportunity to display your Rutan designed aircraft at Plane Crazy Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Enjoy visiting with pilots, engineers, Voyager Volunteers and Voyager Pilot Dick Rutan and Voyager designer Burt Rutan!

Voyager Restaurant opens at 7 a.m. for breakfast!
Aviation Art and Space Art
Aviation collectables for sale
Posters, patches, t-shirts, guided tram rides to T-hangars
Bring the kids! Bring a camera!
All guests are reminded to observe flightline safety rules,
including: no touching propellers, no running, no pets, and keep a watchful eye for taxiing aircraft! Thanks!

Get nosey about history! Go to: www.mojavemuseum.org
See you on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Mojave Air & Spaceport!!

Special Dinner with Dick and Burt speaking at Mariah Country Inn at 6 p.m. (see attached letter) – make your reservations now – limited seating – only room for 120 people!

Meetings this week on Golden State Water's 24 percent rate hike

2011-12-04T04:02:00.000-08:00

APPLE VALLEY • Golden State Water Company is hoping to raise rates 24.54 percent for 2013, or $11.59 per month for the average residential customer. The company, which services some 14,510 High Desert residents, also wants a 2.35 percent hike in 2014 and a 2.94 increase in 2015, for a total hike of nearly 30 percent, or $14.74, over the next few years.

The California Public Utilities Commission is holding two local meetings this week to discuss the proposed rate increases, with one Wednesday in Barstow and one Thursday in Apple Valley. Those figures include commercial and industrial users, who would also be impacted by the hikes along with public agencies. The average industrial bill would jump $96.53 per month while taxpayers would front an average of $97.94 extra per month for impacted agencies such as the town of Apple Valley.

Apple Valley’s Town Council filed an official protest with the CPUC in August. The cities of Ojai, Claremont and San Dimas — which would also be affected by the proposed rate hikes — immediately followed suit.

In its protest, Apple Valley called the requested increases “unjust and unreasonable,” particularly irked at the company’s plans to use a portion of the funds on rising office expenses and to pay for capital improvements in other areas that wouldn’t benefit local residents. The town has cited the hefty rates — and those of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company — as motivation for considering a municipal water company.
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Wealthiest collect most income gains

2011-12-02T07:59:00.001-08:00

SACRAMENTO - Income gains over the past generation have overwhelmingly benefited California's wealthiest residents. That’s according to a new report from the non-partisan California Budget Project.

The report shows that between 1987 and 2009, more than one-third of Californians' income gains went to the wealthiest 1 percent. Almost three-quarters of the gains went to the top 10 percent.

The CBP wrote "We are living in an era of widening inequality, with income gains concentrated at the top, and most families in the state are falling behind." (INT)

Story Date: December 2, 2011
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Wealthiest collect most income gains

2011-12-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

Story Date: December 2, 2011
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Seeing Stars at the Victor Valley Museum - December 4

2011-12-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

Family-friendly astronomy programs return to the Victor Valley Museum on Sunday, December 4, in the San Bernardino County Museum’s portable StarLab planetarium. Programs will begin every half-hour from noon to 3:30 p.m. StarLab programs, recommended for families with children over age 4, are free with paid museum admission.

“Stars form apparent patterns that we call constellations,” said Jolene Redvale, curator of education. “From anywhere in the northern hemisphere, everyone sees pretty much the same stars, but cultures build their own stories and myths about them. In StarLab, visitors can see projected constellations and hear stories about them from various cultural traditions.”

The Victor Valley Museum is at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. Admission is $5 (adult), $4 (senior or military), and $2.50 (student). Children under 5 and San Bernardino County Museum Association members are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.

Winter Wonderland celebration - Saturday

2011-11-30T14:03:00.000-08:00

Anyone who hasn’t yet gotten into the holiday spirit should stop by Civic Center Park on Saturday for the Winter Wonderland and Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Holiday cheer will abound at this family friendly event featuring train rides, inflatables, crafts, pictures with Santa, information and giveaways, live entertainment and falling snow from 2 to 6 p.m.

The Town of Apple Valley is grateful to the following businesses that will be on hand to provide free goodies to visitors including candy, muffins, coupons, pencils, hot beverages, cotton candy and more: Caremore Health, Apple Valley Kiwanis Club, Mimi’s Café, American Cancer Society, John’s Incredible Pizza, Girl Scout Troop 357, Starbucks, O’dells, and CubeSmart-UStore It.

High Desert Mavericks mascot Wooly Bully will make an appearance from 5 to 6 p.m. the Apple Valley Fire Protection District will take donations for its Spark of Love toy drive, the Kiwanis Club will be ringing the Salvation Army kettle bell, and Girl Scout Troop 357 will collect bottled water, non-perishable snacks, toiletries and emergency supplies to make “Kits of Compassion” to give to the needy.

The event will culminate with the lighting of a new 21-foot “Tree of Lights” sponsored by Agio Real Estate. Admission and parking are free.

The Town has many sponsorship opportunities available for other special events and programs. Sponsorships include many advertising and publicity benefits to the sponsor, as well as the potential for tax benefits. For more information please call (760) 240-7000, x 7071 or visit www.AppleValleyEvents.org.

Millions of Xmas lights at Mission Inn

2011-11-24T04:56:00.000-08:00

The turkey is barely cold on the plates in the dining room at the Mission Inn in Riverside before the blaze of Christmas lights is switched on. The Friday after Thanksgiving has become the most anticipated night in the Inland Empire. The 108-year-old hotel in Riverside is wrapped in 3.5 million holiday lights, which are switched on the night after Thanksgiving and stay on through the holiday season.

People from around Southern California drive out to the Mission Inn for a day trip, after dark. Opening night is one big street party. Thousands line up on Mission Inn Avenue at sunset to count down to the ceremonial turning of a switch that illuminates millions of bulbs and starts up animated figures on the balconies and roofs. Fireworks top off the night, bathing the Spanish tile roof of Mission Inn in seasonal reds, greens and golds.

The hotel now has top-rate restaurants and a wine bar. Roberts' wife, Kelly, created a spa. His daughter, Casey, opened a gourmet cupcake shop. The Mission Inn has been the centerpiece of a revival of downtown Riverside. The best day each year to see those changes is the beginning of the Festival of Lights.

The Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. 951-784-0300 or www.missioninn.com.

The Festival of Lights ceremonies begin at 3 p.m. with the the "switch-on" of the lights at 5:15 p.m. The festival will run through Jan. 8. festivaloflightsca.com.

Tours: Whether staying at the inn or just passing by, take advantage of the great docent-led tours of the property through the adjacent Mission Inn Museum. For prices and tour times, call 951-788-9556 or go to www.missioninnmuseum.com.
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Police warn travelers to be wary of thieves on Inland Empire freeways

2011-11-22T03:24:00.000-08:00

Stranded motorists targeted in recent rash of incidents
Bumper-to-bumper traffic for years has been the No. 1 concern among travelers hitting Southern California highways and byways for Thanksgiving weekend. But this year, law enforcement officials want travelers to be wary of armed thieves targeting stranded motorists and robbing them on Inland Empire freeways. No arrests were made in a recent string of thefts, and officials, in anticipation of a high number of travelers before and after the holiday, urge motorists to avoid pulling over in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“When you're traveling in areas you're unfamiliar with, which happens a lot on holidays, it can be daunting if you break down in the middle of nowhere,” California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Hesser said this past week. No thefts were reported on Interstate 10 in the Coachella Valley, but anyone headed west of the desert may want to proceed with caution.

All thefts happened at night or in the early morning, which has Palm Springs resident Dennis Hargens concerned because he plans to hit the road before dawn to avoid heavy traffic. Four men in a white utility truck or a Honda or Hyundai sedan robbed people on interstates 15 and 215 and the 60 and 91 freeways near San Bernardino.
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Welcome to readers from Europe

2011-11-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

This week we actually have more readers from Europe than America.
I like our small community and our Gazette, but I am always fascinated with our readers from so many nations.
Just a note, there are many popular magazines available on other SoleraU pages especially Bill's Blog.

virus warning from ELSBETH MANZANO

2011-11-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS NOTICE TO YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, CONTACTS!

In the coming days, you should be aware.....

Do not open any message with an attachment called: Invitation FACEBOOK, regardless of who sent it. It is a virus that opens an Olympic torch that burns the whole hard disc C of your computer.

This virus will be received from someone you had in your address book. That's why you should send this message to all your contacts. It is better to receive this email 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.

If you receive an email called: Invitation FACEBOOK, though sent by a friend, do not open it and delete it immediately. It is the worst virus announced by CNN. A new virus has been discovered recently that has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.

It is a Trojan Horse that asks you to install an adobe flash plug-in. Once you install it, it's all over. And there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital information of their function is saved.

SNOPES SAYS THIS IS TRUE............

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/youtube.asp < http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/youtube.asp>

Call-forwarding scam is back

2011-11-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Numerous residents have complained to their local San Bernardino County Sheriff's stations about scammers calling and informing them a loved one was hurt while in jail, officials said. The scammers then instructed the victims to call a phone number beginning with star-72 to get more information on their family member’s condition. What many victims don’t realize is that star-72 is the telephone quick-code for call forwarding.

According to authorities, scammers — often calling on behalf of inmates — will have the victim’s calls forwarded to an outside number, many times a throw-away cell phone. This will allow an inmate to place a collect call to the forwarded number and those calls will then be billed to the victim.

One Victorville woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she recently received a similar call urging her to call a star-72 number because a loved one had been jailed. Leery of the information given to her, she called the Victorville station and was told they had received hundreds of similar complaints in the last few weeks.
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I.E. home prices to remain flat for next two years

2011-11-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

Local home prices have stabilized since they hit the bottom in 2009, but a recent research indicated a bleak outlook, predicting prices will remain flat for at least another two years.

The average price of High Desert homes sold in October was $113,310 or $61.22 per square foot, according to Victor Valley Multiple Listing Service data compiled by Larry Trombley of Century 21 Rose Realty in Hesperia. It rebounded 2.7 percent after three months of slight decline. The average price has been hovering around $63 per square foot since 2009 as it dropped from the peak at $189 in June 2006.

Professor Mak Kaboudan of the University of Redlands School of Business said home prices in most parts of the Inland Empire “will at best remain sluggish,” as it will take at least several years of good economic health before they start to rebound, according to his study released in September.

“From my analyses, it seems the unemployment rate is the main driver that determines what happens to the housing market in San Bernardino County altogether,” Kaboudan said in an email. That’s bad news for the Victor Valley, which suffers from unemployment rate above 15 percent — about 3 percentage points higher than the county average.
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MY LAST TRIP TO COSTCO

2011-11-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant? So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff a poodle's ass and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was Laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the World to think of crazy things to say. Forward this (especially) to all your retired friends...it will be their laugh for the day!

Very funny!!! Thank you, ELSBETH MANZANO.
more funny stories at Essays & Whatever

Town chosen as competition sites - February 18, 2012

2011-11-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

The American Heart Association has teamed up with the Town of Apple Valley to offer HeartChase, an innovative community event that provides a fun, new way to promote healthy living and support a great cause.

Heart Chase is a wacky team building event that is a cross between The Amazing Race and Minute to Win It. If you like friendly competition with a healthy focus and a charitable benefit, consider getting a team of family, friends or coworkers together to participate on February 18 at Apple Valley Civic Center Park. Participants will work in teams of 3 to 5 people to uncover clues, solve puzzles and complete challenges in a race to the finish line.

The Town of Apple Valley is one of only 50 cities in the nation to host one of these innovative community events. The activity is a perfect addition to the growing list of classes, materials and events offered through Healthy Apple Valley, a grant-based program focused on helping local residents eat smart, be active and live better.

Registration is available through the Town of Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department and is only $10 per person. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at www.AVRecreation.org or call (760) 240-7880. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. For a comprehensive description of HeartChase visit www.heartchase.org.

Medicare premiums to rise less than expected: How much?

2011-10-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Seniors expecting big Medicare hikes can breathe a sigh of relief:
Premiums will rise by only $3.50 at most.

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare is providing better benefits at lower cost," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. She reassured seniors that they have nothing to fear from the health care law, and said called keeping premiums in check "pretty remarkable."

The 2012 Part B premium for outpatient care will be $99.90 per month - about $7 less than projected as recently as May. The extra cash that most seniors will pay works out to about 10 percent of the average Social Security cost-of-living increase that's coming their way.

Some folks will even pay less. Younger retirees who recently enrolled were charged $115.40 a month this year, but they too will drop down to $99.90.

What's behind the lower-than expected premium prices? Some cite the relationship between Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLA) and Medicare, while others cite a moderation of health care costs.

Medicare's Part B annual deductible, the amount beneficiaries pay before their coverage begins, will also drop next year to $140 - a decrease of $22. The hospital deductible, however, will increase by $24, to $1,156, for those admitted as inpatients. One doesn't cancel out the other since a minority of beneficiaries are hospitalized in any given year.
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Social Security benefits to rise 3.6 percent next year

2011-10-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Seniors receiving Social Security retirement benefits will get a 3.6 percent cost of living adjustment in 2012, their first increase since 2009. For a senior getting the average benefit of $1,186 a month this year, the increase works out to about $43 a month or $516 a year.

“Given what else is going on in the economy, with lost savings and pensions, lower home values, higher health care costs” and near-zero returns on money market funds or stable value funds, “$500 is going to be some welcome relief,” says David Certner, legislative policy director with AARP.

Many seniors won’t see the full 3.6 percent increase in their monthly benefit because it will be offset by higher Medicare Part B premiums.

Medicare will announce Part B premiums for 2012 later this year.
For more information on the Social Security increase, click here.

A Common Link For Success In Big Bear

2011-10-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

John Miller, public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service, would like to see the trails and campgrounds in the San Bernardino National Forest included on the short list.

“The national forest and Big Bear are completely intertwined,” Miller said. “You can’t have one without the other.”

The San Bernardino National Forest is one of the busiest recreation areas of its kind in the country. And while there are plenty who enjoy sampling the trails and camping out around the Valley, Miller thinks more can be done to publicize the Big Bear-national forest connection. Miller points to the wide variety of vacation, resort, outdoor and tourist websites promoting Big Bear. “The question is how do you pull it all together,” Miller said. “I’d like to see us more interconnected electronically.”

One example of Miller’s vision can be found at the Moab Tourist Council’s website, www.discovermoab.com. The tourist-based site links directly to websites for two national parks, a state park, a national recreation area, museums and scenic byways. Miller said a similar approach is being done in the Inyo Kern National Forest region.

Public information officer Dan McKernan believes the Resort Association’s recent rebranding is a step in the right direction. “We want Big Bear to be known as an outdoor recreation hub,” McKernan said. “We’re becoming more of a destination for active lifestyles. We want to make sure we are out there in the market.”
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Robert Greenwald on MSNBC discussing the Koch-Funded Echo Chamber Onslaught on Social Security

2011-10-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

Social Security is critical to all of us whether retired now or in the future. This is especially important because private retirement and life-time employment are becoming obsolete. IMO it is important to understand the reltionship of FOX news, owned by Murdoch, and the politicans they are supporting.

HERE IS THE VIDEO

Facts About the Deficit and the Debt Ceiling Debate

Deep Creek Road closure scheduled for signal installation

2011-10-13T21:47:00.001-07:00

Apple Valley, CA – October 13, 2011: Deep Creek Road will be closed at Bear Valley Road from October 17 to 28 while a new signal is installed at that intersection.

During the closure, cars will be unable to enter or exit Deep Creek at Bear Valley Road. A detour will route traffic to Apple Valley Road and Del Oro. Visit the news page at www.AppleValley.org for updates.

Driver Shot After Pulling Over to Change Tire in Redlands

2011-10-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

A driver sitting in a disabled car was shot late Monday on the side of the 210 Freeway, according to authorities. The shooting occurred at about 11 p.m. near the San Bernardino Avenue exit after the victim pulled over to fix a flat tire. Another vehicle approached and gunfire shattered the driver and passenger side windows of the pickup, according to investigators. The Redlands Police Department said it's working with the California Highway Patrol to determine if Monday's shooting is connected to other unsolved crimes in the Inland Empire, including at least eight other shootings and two robberies. As word spread of this latest shooting spread, residents grew concerned for their safety.
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MOJAVE DESERT: First displaced tortoise released

2011-10-09T01:31:00.000-07:00

She appeared to just want to go home. A biologist captured this desert tortoise in May so she wouldn’t be crushed by the heavy machinery now building a 5.6-square-mile solar energy project in a Mojave Desert valley in northeastern San Bernardino County. Yet she never adapted to captivity. Again and again, she attempted to climb her pen’s wire mesh fence, only to fall onto her back.

So, with special permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , she was returned to the wild last week – the first and only desert tortoise to be relocated since the Obama administration approved six large-scale solar projects for public desert lands in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Another 127 tortoises displaced by the BrightSource Energy Co. project must remain in pens for the winter, even though federal Bureau Land Management and company officials had expected to release many of them this fall.
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Apple Valley’s Holiday Craft Fair moves to new location

2011-10-08T03:57:00.001-07:00

Apple Valley, CA – October 7, 2011: If you enjoy giving handmade gifts but don’t have the time to make them yourself, stop by the Annual Apple Valley Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, November 12 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in its new location in the Conference Center at Town Hall.

The new location gives shoppers a warm, friendly atmosphere to discover unique and hard to find items such as blankets, scarves, Christmas wreaths, jewelry, baby items and much more. Bring the kids along to create a free holiday craft provided by the Teen Zone.

You won’t have to travel to the North Pole to get a picture with Santa Claus. He’ll be on site at the craft fair. The cost for prints ranges from $7 for a 5X7 to $25 for three 8.5” X 11” glossy sheets.

The craft fair features only 100% hand crafted items from more than 40 vendors. Raffle items will be awarded throughout the day to several lucky winners. Admission and parking are free and a snack bar will be provided. The conference center is located at 14975 Dale Evans Parkway, adjacent to Town Hall and across the street from the Apple Valley Commons Shopping Center.

For more information please call Special Events at (760) 240-7000 x 7071 or visit ww.AppleValleyEvents.org.

# # #

Special Planetarium Shows at Victor Valley Museum; Oct 7 & 8

2011-10-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

The Victor Valley Museum will offer family-friendly astronomy programs in the San Bernardino County Museum’s portable planetarium, StarLab, this Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8. Twenty-minute shows will begin on the half hour on Friday from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The programs are included with paid admission.

“Our StarLab programs are a great introduction to the most accessible constellations,” said Brian Carr, Museum Education Assistant. “After our programs, visitors can watch the night sky, see the starts and constellations they learned here, and then continue looking for more.”

StarLab programs are best enjoyed by children age 4 and up and their families.

Town Council to review Yucca Loma Bridge project

2011-10-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

APPLE VALLEY • The Town Council Tuesday will look at a price increase and cap as plans continue to move forward for the Yucca Loma Bridge project.

Yucca Loma Bridge is a $75 million, four-lane bridge that will connect Apple Valley Road and Green Tree Boulevard, crossing over the Mojave River and the BNSF Railroad. The long-awaited project is aimed at reducing traffic on Bear Valley Road by giving drivers another east/west route across the Victor Valley.

A proposal on Tuesday night’s agenda calls for a review of an amendment to the bridge project contract agreement that would increase the cost of the project no more than $847,400. The increased cost is for additional right of way and services as well as construction support for town facilities, final design and project coordination.

These items are up for discussion during Tuesday’s meeting which begins at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway. Tuesday night’s agenda and live streaming video will be available online at www.AppleValley.org.

Robbers target distressed motorists on Inland Empire freeways

2011-09-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

A series of armed robberies of distressed motorists along Inland Empire freeways earlier this month has prompted the California Highway Patrol to form a special task force and increase early morning patrols. The robberies all occurred in the early hours of Sept. 18 and 19. In two incidents, the robbers fired shots, though no one was hurt, authorities said.

The suspects, who remain at large, are described only as three or four men wearing hooded sweat shirts. "There are isolated incidents where things like this happen," said CHP Officer Daniel Hesser, a spokesman for the department's Inland Division. "But something like this, where it's multiple people, obviously caught our attention."
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Economists: Inland Empire economy several years from recovery

2011-09-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

The Inland Empire and the rest of the state may not return to pre-recession employment levels until as many as six years pass, economists said in a new forecast predicting minimal short-term growth as the state and region continue to wrestle with long-term hardships.

"We're basically forecasting that it's not until 2016, 2017 that the Inland Empire returns to the level of economic activity we had in 2006," Claremont McKenna College economist Marc Weidenmier said. "This is basically a decade-long recovery."

The Claremont McKenna professor represented his college's side of the CMC-UCLA Inland Empire Forecast, a report that this year contained predictions for a stalled economy. The new report is a localized follow-up to the UCLA Anderson quarterly forecast, which was released earlier this week. UCLA analysts expect California unemployment to hover around 12 percent next year, about the level where joblessness is now.

In San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the jobless rate will remain in double-digit percentages until 2015, Weidenmier said. Overall, the economists forecast national, short-term economic growth to be only about 1 percent, on an annualized basis. But they do not expect inland Southern California nor the rest of the United States to sink into a second recession.

Consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, has slowed as recession-shocked consumers increase savings. What money people do spend has been diverted from consumer goods to increasingly expensive food and gasoline.
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INLAND: Economic downturn may mean fewer residents

2011-09-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

The Inland area grew so rapidly in the early to mid 2000s that some cities doubled in population. Based on that trend, the California Department of Finance in mid-2007 predicted the growth would continue far into the future. Then the economy tanked. Growth slowed. Jobs disappeared. People moved out. Immigration plummeted.

Now the state is preparing to adjust its projections downward. The Inland area is still expected to grow more than the rest of the state but the region's lower projected population could affect the timetables for road construction, new police and fire stations and sewers.

The Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG, already has made preliminary adjustments. The new July 2011 forecast, which still must be approved by SCAG's board, projects the population of Riverside and San Bernardino counties will reach 4.94 million by 2020 -- compared to nearly 5.4 million in the early 2008 forecast. The 2010 census counted 4.22 million Inland residents.

For years, most new Inland residents have come from the coastal counties, primarily in search of cheaper, newer and larger housing, Johnson said. Even though coastal home prices have dropped, Inland housing costs fell even more. Once the economy improves and the housing market recovers, many people again will start moving eastward, as they did after previous recessions, Johnson said. With far more developable land than coastal counties, the Inland area is where large-scale building of new homes will occur.

"All our history indicates the Inland region will have strong growth again," Johnson said. Riverside County's growth will continue to be more robust than San Bernardino County's because of more developable land within commuting distance of coastal counties, he explained. The population growth will be accompanied by more than a million additional Inland-based jobs by 2035, according to the preliminary SCAG projection.

The Inland area will add jobs at a much faster rate than Los Angeles and Orange counties, the report forecasts. The region's population growth and worsening traffic problems will likely spur more companies to move and to create jobs in the Inland area, as previously happened with Orange County, said SCAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata. Yet the agency expects 360,000 fewer Inland jobs than projected in 2008 because so many jobs have been lost in the economic downturn.
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Tainted water in Inland Empire could get easier to track

2011-09-15T01:11:00.000-07:00

Has contamination from an Inland Empire “superfund” site leached into the Santa Ana River? A Congressional subcommittee has convened to ponder a bill that would help officials answer that question. For more than half a dozen years, homeowners in Rialto have paid $12 a month to clean up their drinking water. The Inland city has shut 13 wells because they’re contaminated by perchlorate, a chemical used to make rocket fuel, explosives and fireworks.

Democratic Rep. Joe Baca of San Bernardino says he still has concerns even though the U.S. Geological Survey sampled well water and studied the flow of perchlorate in the immediate area.

"I have concerns that the USGS has not conducted an in-depth analysis of the perchlorate plume in this basin. Because w hen we allow it to flow from not only the Inland Empire, it goes through the Santa Ana River into Orange County, affecting that area as well," he said. Scientists figure that the plume is a mile wide and 6 miles long.

Rialto estimates nearly half its water wells have been contaminated by perchlorate, which has been shown to interfere with thyroid function. Rialto was at one time home to fireworks factories and bomb-making plants going back as far as World War II, all of which may have used the chemical.
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Home prices hit 12-year low

2011-09-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

The average home price in the High Desert dropped for the second straight month, hitting the lowest since 1999 for the month of August. Local home prices last month declined 0.6 percent from July to the average of $60.03 per square foot, according to data compiled by Larry Trombley of Century 21 Rose Realty in Hesperia. That’s 10.2 percent lower than the same month last year.

The supply of homes is far exceeding the demand to buy them, driving the prices down. Home sales in August dropped 6.8 percent from the previous month. With a tough economy and high unemployment rates in local cities, industry experts said many residents can’t afford to buy houses despite their low prices and low interest rate.
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Would Obama's jobs plan help the struggling Inland Empire economy?

2011-09-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

With the unemployment rate in San Bernardino County mired at 14.3 percent, many local residents remain frustrated and angry about the state of the economy. The question they want answered now is: Can President Barack Obama and the Congress produce policies which could help rectify the situation? Urging Congress to do "what's right for the future" of America, Obama on Thursday proposed his American Jobs Act in a nationally televised address.

Obama's proposal would extend the payroll tax and would offer tax credits to companies that hire veterans or Americans who have been unemployed for six months or more. The $447-billion bill is designed to create more jobs for construction workers, teachers, veterans, and long-term unemployed Americans by providing a $4,000 tax break for companies that hire these types of workers, said Obama during his 33-minute speech.

"There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both Democrats and Republicans -- including many who sit here right now," said Obama. "It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs bill right away."

The fate of the bill is uncertain because Republicans control the House of Representatives and have opposed Obama on previous proposals. Obama said that through passage of the bill, the typical family would get a $1,500 tax cut next year and small business will get a tax cut if they hire or raise workers' wages. "If you have 50 employees making an average salary, that's an $80,000 tax cut. And small business will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012," he added. The bill would put people to work to rebuild infrastructure and schools, Obama said.

"Everyone here knows that we have badly decaying roads and bridges all over the country. Our highways are clogged with traffic. This is inexcusable," said Obama. "Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower." Obama said the bill would not add to the deficit; instead, "it will be paid for" by approving an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by December of this year.
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RIVERSIDE: Historical medical museum a little-known treasure

2011-09-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

A little-known museum in Riverside is home to a wacky, weird and wonderful collection that includes an electric prostate warmer, a violet ray generator to cure baldness and an artificial eye made of blown glass. The Southern California Medical Museum has curios dating back hundreds of years -- to a 1601 leather-bound tome of scientific lecture notes in Latin from a school in Padua. California has a similar museum in Sacramento, but the nonprofit, historical showcase here is the only one of its kind in the 10-county region, said Dr. Elliot Weinstein, its volunteer curator.

Weinstein, 59, a pediatrician in Rancho Cucamonga, lovingly oversees the display of hundreds of surgical tools, 30 doctors' bags, dental drills, chamber pots, medicines, books, artworks, potions and quackery gadgets -- even real gallstones. Space is so tight that artwork, medical school diplomas from the turn of the last century and medical contraptions hang in the restrooms.

The men's loo sports an ear trumpet from the 1890s; the women's, an array of gynecological instruments. "For its size, it's got more on display than a museum three or four times bigger," Weinstein said. A spectrochrome, a bit of quackery from San Diego that promised healing through colors, languishes in a storage closet for lack of room.

A physician started the museum in 1982 in the Colton headquarters of the San Bernardino County Medical Society. Artifacts ranging from diphtheria instruments to electroshock gizmos, and from a Civil War surgeon's kit to Gessler's Magic Headache Wafers, poured in from clinics, doctors and other medical societies. The museum moved when the San Bernardino County chapter began leasing space in 2004 from the Riverside County chapter's building. The museum still is affiliated with the San Bernardino chapter that spawned it, but is a separate entity with an $86,000 endowment. It is funded strictly through donations.

Weinstein was featured for his medical expertise this past spring on the A&E television show "Storage Wars," in an episode called "Live and Let Bid." He identified a brass metal box culled from a storage unit as a 19th-century bloodletting device, similar to several that the museum owns.
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Medical Museum

The Southern California Medical Museum showcases medical artifacts dating to the 1600s.

Where: 3993 Jurupa Ave., Riverside

Hours: Business hours, Monday through Friday.

Visit: Call 951-787-7700 for an appointment.

Welcome International Readers

2011-09-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Amazing!!! Almost half our Gazette page views are from international readers. When I started this over three years ago, I never expected SOooo much interest in our community and of course, I am delighted. It is a great place.

Thank you for your interest.
best wishes...
Bill

Guilty as Charged!!!

2011-09-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

I was called a LIBERAL today. Ah, for shame!!!

Two guys complained bitterly about Mexicans--they built our houses and do our landscaping.
Arizona spends the exorbitant sum of 90 cents a day to feed its prisoners--way too much.
Eliminate the baloney from their sandwiches? Use the cash to pay off our wars?

SOooo I said very little and should have said less, but if it weren't for LIBERALS they would not have Social Security and Medicare, but of course, that was not mentioned, nor were the zillionaire tax cuts or oil company subsidies.

SOooo we are reduced to quarreling over table scraps while real money goes to the already rich--check the statistics.
Sometimes I think I am living in an alternate reality.
for commentary and statistics
---

‎"If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal", then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."
~ John F. Kennedy

Professor wanted for ties to racist gang, meth ring

2011-09-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sheriff’s investigators are searching for a college professor who allegedly headed up a methamphetamine trafficking ring as leader of a local chapter of the motorcycle gang Devils Diciples. After a months-long investigation, sheriff’s officials have arrested nearly a dozen people, including two High Desert residents. But California State University, San Bernardino professor of kinesiology Stephen Kinzey, 43, is still wanted for his ties to the case, Gang Team Detective Jason Rosenbaum said.

“To our knowledge, this is the first notice that anyone on our campus has had regarding this situation. Our university police department and the entire campus community, as relevant, will work as closely as possible with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to assist with the investigation to help assure that all the facts are accurate,” CSUSB President Albert Karing said in a statement. “If the allegations are indeed true, this is beyond disappointing.”

During a raid on Kinzey’s Highland home Aug. 26, officials said they recovered about a pound of meth — worth about $10,000 — weapons and gang paraphernalia. His girlfriend, Holly Robinson, 33, was arrested at the home.
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Inland Empire manufacturing activity still growing

2011-09-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

San Bernardino and Riverside counties' manufacturing activity continues to grow, but the pace is slowing and managers have gloomy expectations. "It's an interesting one from our perspective, because the indices look relatively strong," said Barbara Sirotnik, co-director of the Institute of Applied Labor at Cal State San Bernardino. "Production is up. Employment is up," she continued.

The Institute for Applied Research surveys purchasing managers each month. Researchers surveyed 32 manufacturers across the two-county area to compile August's data, which the institute released Thursday. The report provides a view to manufacturers' production, hiring and other business trends. Researchers also assess purchasing managers' perspectives on the local economy. August's production index registered at 57.8 percent, and the Institute's formula works out so that any number above 50 means production is growing.
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Pomona senior complex to have solar panels installed

2011-08-31T03:21:00.000-07:00

A collection of businesses and government agencies have chosen the Las Brisas senior-housing complex as one of 15 places to receive new solar panels through a $3.6 million grant. Las Brisas is a five-year-old complex where nearly 90 seniors live. Los Angeles-based TELACU, which operates the complex, is also adding photovoltaic solar panels at eight other Los Angeles and San Bernardino complexes.
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Bring the family to this year’s Apple Valley Fall Festival

2011-08-26T17:37:00.001-07:00

Say good bye to the scorching days of summer and say hello to an awesome autumn at the Apple Valley Fall Festival Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Park.

This family friendly festival continues to grow each year drawing visitors from all over the high desert and beyond. Visitors to this year’s event can patronize retail and food vendors while country band “Against the Grain” plays from 10 a.m. to noon. The “Big Fat Steve Band” take the stage from 1 to 4 p.m. with their blend of blues, country and rockabilly that has garnered a large local following in the High Desert.

Returning this year is the Paint-A-Truck art opportunity, as well as the hay maze. Desert Valley Towing will provide the 1972 Ford F250 truck on which artists of all ages can show off their painting prowess, and visitors can wander through the giant hay maze planned and operated by local area Girl Scouts as a service project.

Children are invited to play in the Kid’s Zone or strut their stuff in the Little Apples on Parade that welcomes all stick horses, tot bikes, wagons, K-9 pals and strollers, and spend some time with the local wild life in the petting zoo.

Auto enthusiasts are encouraged to bring hot rods, classic cars, military vehicles, muscle cars or off road vehicles to the festival’s car show. There is no registration fee and participants may drive away with a $100 prize.

Civic Center Park is located at 14999 Dale Evans Parkway. Visit www.AppleValleyEvents.org or call (760) 240-7000 X 7071 for more information. Licensed and friendly pets are allowed on leashes. Alcohol, barbecue grills and staked umbrellas are not allowed. Admission and parking are free. There may be small fees or suggested donations for some activities.

This event is made possible through the support of Desert Valley Towing, Mollie’s Kountry Kitchen, Burrtec Waste Industries, Y102, Apple Valley Smiles, Parkway Dental and our numerous community partners.

Q & A with Kirby Brill: Master of water

2011-08-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Kirby Brill, general manager of the Mojave Water Agency, was born in San Diego while his dad was stationed there in the Navy.

Later the family moved to Brea, where Brill grew up. When he turned 16, he was dying to be independent, so he got a job as a box boy at the newly opened Albertson’s in Brea — a great way to earn a few bucks for fun and to pay for college. At Cal State Fullerton he eventually got hooked on Geology and ended up with a major in civil engineering and a minor in earth sciences.

Before graduation, he connected with a well-known professional engineer named William R. Mills and helped him set up the office at his consulting firm.

“I learned my first lesson about how hard work and networking can create opportunities when my professor recommended me for the job,” Brill said. “Since it was just he and I in the office, I was able to work very closely with him on a wide array of water related projects. As my first “real boss”, he became the first of two very important mentors that significantly shaped my professional career.”

He spent a few years at a different civil engineering firm before joining the Orange County Water District where he helped develop a new hydrogeology department. He went on to become the executive director for the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, where he helped coordinate cleanup of one of the largest superfund sites in the nation.

Seeking a new challenge, he earned a Masters in Businesses Administration with an emphasis in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. The program emphasized group projects.

Since 2000, he has worked at the Mojave Water Agency as the general manager. He considers himself very fortunate to work for a great board and talented professional staff.

“My shared goal is that that our efforts here at MWA will result in a stable and sustainable water supply that will serve as a solid foundation for our community’s future economic growth,” he said.

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High schoolers improve slightly on exit exams

2011-08-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

San Bernardino County 10th graders achieved the highest passing rates on the 2010-11 California High School Exit Exam of any similar class in the exam’s 11-year history, according to state data released Wednesday. The new data marks the county’s second year of record-high passing rates — but it also shows one-fifth of 10th graders failed the English and math sections of the exam.

The CAHSEE, a state graduation requirement since 2006, tests students in eighth-grade level math and 10th grade level English. It takes a 55 percent score for students to pass in the math section and a 60 percent score to pass in English. (This seems quite easy to me. I wonder what the questions are. )

Countywide, 79 percent of 32,529 students passed the math portion — up 3 percentage points from 2010 — and 80 percent of 32,538 students passed the English portion — up 2 points from the previous year.
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Household hazardous waste collection center to move Saturday

2011-08-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Beginning Saturday, August 27, Apple Valley residents can bring their household hazardous waste to the new collection center at 13450 Nomwaket Road between Powhatan & Ottawa roads just around the corner from its former location. The new facility will accommodate the increased use seen since it first opened in the 1990s. More than 126 tons of materials were collected last year compared to 98 tons the previous year.

Household hazardous waste is any material generated from normal household activity that may threaten human health or the environment when disposed of improperly. For example, one gallon of motor oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water. Left over chemicals and cleaners, medicines or hobby supplies can sicken animals or people. Dumping oil or any other chemical is a crime, both legally and environmentally.

The collection center is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. This service is free to Apple Valley residents and proof of residency is required. No business waste is accepted. The Town contracts with San Bernardino County Fire HHW which arranges for safe recycling or disposal of the waste as well as training workers.

For safe transport, make sure the amount of waste does not exceed five gallons per container and a total of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per trip. Check that the waste containers are properly sealed. Keep the waste in its original container if possible. Otherwise, label its contents clearly. Place the waste securely in the vehicle for safe transport to the collection center.

Call (760) 240-7521 for more information or visit www.GreenAppleValley.org.

Sucker habitat threatens proposed Inland Empire water facility

2011-08-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires the cities of Colton and San Bernardino to continue its current discharges into the Santa Ana River, rather than allow some of that water to be diverted to the proposed “Clean Water Factory,” it could drive up the proposed facility’s operating costs to the point where it is no longer economically feasible, while forcing the Inland region to increase its dependence on costly imported water that is not always available.

Nature has been recycling the Earth’s water for millions of years. But as Southern California faces increasing shortfalls in water supplies – either as a result of population growth, droughts or periodic cutbacks in water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River – water agencies have found they can stretch their existing supplies by recycling their own wastewater.

The City of San Bernardino Water Department, in fact, has drawn up plans to recycle as much as 25,000 acre feet of water per year and use it to recharge the Waterman groundwater basin. That’s enough water to sustain 100,000 people.

Recycling water through its proposed “Clean Water Factory,” the city hopes to build the facility next to its existing wastewater treatment plant and complete the full build-out project by 2020.

But now that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has doubled the critical habitat area for the Santa Ana Sucker, city officials worry that the Service could indirectly derail the project by requiring it to continue its current treated wastewater discharges into the Santa Ana River, rather than allowing some of that water to be redirected to the Clean Water Factory for recycling purposes.

“The Service could require require us to continue discharging so much into the Santa Ana River so much recycled water to be discharged that we cannot economically use our recycled water for groundwater recharge,” said Stacey Aldstadt, general manager of the City of San Bernardino Water Department.

“This would be a tragedy,” she said, “because this is water we need to recharge our groundwater basins. So in their effort to improve habitat for the Sucker, the Fish and Wildlife Service could end up forcing us to import water from 500 miles away. It makes no sense.”
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To assemble an emergency kit

2011-08-23T09:29:00.001-07:00

To assemble an emergency kit, start with an easy-to-carry, water-tight container, such as a large plastic trash or sturdy cardboard box, lined with plastic trash bags. Next gather up the following items and place them in your kit:

Essentials
• Water - one gallon per person per day
• Water purification kit or bleach
• First aid kit and first aid book
• Non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant, soup and cereals, etc.
• Non-electric can opener
• Baby supplies: formula, bottles, pacifiers, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices
• Cash and checkbook
• Important documents - insurance, birth certificates, social security cards, wills, tax and bank information, list of doctors, inventory of household goods
• Anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel
• Blanket or sleeping bag per person
• Portable radio or television with extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Essential medications
• Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
• Extra house and car keys
• Fire extinguisher - ABC-type
• Pet food, water, leash, carrier, bedding and vaccination records
• Seasonal changes of clothing, including sturdy shoes
• Books, cards, toys, things to occupy you and your child's time

Sanitation Supplies
• Large plastic trash bags for waste, tarps and rain ponchos
• Large trash cans
• Bar soap and liquid detergent
• Personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, etc.
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Toilet paper
• Household bleach
• Rubber gloves

Stocking up now on emergency supplies can add to your family's safety and comfort during and after a disaster. Store in one place enough supplies for at least three to seven days.

Heart Patients in Marital Bliss May Live Long After Bypass Surgery

2011-08-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

New research found that happily married couples who have undergone heart bypass surgery are more than three times as likely to survive 15 years post surgery, than those who are unmarried. A happy marriage can play just as big a role as good heart health after quitting smoking, losing weight or keeping a low blood pressure, experts say. University of Rochester researchers surveyed 225 people who had undergone bypass surgery between 1987 and 1990, asking them about their marital status at the time of surgery and to rate their marital satisfaction a year after their operations.
MORE AT Health & Medical

I had my bypass at the VA almost five years ago and I am doing better than in a very long time...

Cajon Pass fire shuts down lanes of I-15

2011-08-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

A nearly 300-acre fire caused havoc on Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass on Monday with lane closures taking place throughout the day, according to Caltrans and San Bernardino County Fire officials. Two lanes of the northbound freeway were expected to remain closed near Kenwood Road until Monday evening, while all southbound lanes were open as of 5:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol website.

The fire was still growing and Caltrans officials said a full freeway shutdown was possible. As the evening rush hour approached, northbound traffic backed up some 10 miles to Interstate 210 along the I-15 and to University Parkway on Interstate 215. There were reports of at least one minor injury and one structure being destroyed as a result of the blaze, according to the Forestry Service website.

The “Ken Fire” was first reported at about 1 p.m. and the plume of black smoke was visible as far away as Apple Valley. At about 2:15 p.m., fire authorities began evacuating the Silverwood Lake area. Officials had not confirmed if the structure, which appeared to be a home, was in the evacuation area.

According to the California Highway Patrol website, the fire knocked down power lines and U.S. Department of Forestry firefighters were trying to get control of the blaze. The power lines stretched across all northbound lanes and officials had to clear them off the roadway.
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NOTE: This points out the very obvious--we are very dependent on the I-15. In event of an earthquake or other emergence we could have great difficulty "getting down the hill" so we should have sufficient supplies for a few days to allow authorities to recover from a disaster.

St. Mary's new campus scheduled to open in 2016

2011-08-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

To accommodate the increasing population and needs for medical services in the High Desert, St. Mary Medical Center is scheduled to open a near 100-acre Victorville campus in January 2016. The $250 million campus will be built between Bear Valley Road and Main Street west of Interstate 15, where St. Mary’s bought 98 acres in 2007. The new campus will add 128 hospital beds to St. Mary’s existing 202 beds in Apple Valley.

The High Desert has an average of 1.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population compared to 1.9 in California and 2.7 nationwide, according to data provided by St. Mary’s. “We know that the High Desert needs increasing access to hospital beds,” said Randy Bevilacqua, spokesperson for St. Mary’s. The population in the desert is estimated to grow by 42 percent between 2008 and 2018, Bevilacqua said, and most of it will take place in the western part of the Victor Valley.
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Foreclosures fall

2011-08-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

Foreclosure rates continued to fall in the Inland Empire and the United States as a whole, according to newly released data on July's foreclosure activity. Irvine-based RealtyTrac released the information Wednesday. Nationwide, foreclosure filings dropped 4 percent from July to June.

Compared to July 2010, U.S. foreclosure activity fell 35 percent last month. At the end of last month, the government owned roughly 248,000 foreclosed homes, officials said. About 70,000 of those are listed for sale. Locally, San Bernardino County's foreclosure rate fell 9 percent from June to July. Year-over-year, foreclosures fell 27 percent.

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/business/ci_18655243#ixzz1UiMyz3E4

Art, Photo, and Essay Calendar Contest

2011-08-10T11:34:00.001-07:00

Apple Valley, CA – August 10, 2011:

Budding artists and seasoned artistic veterans alike are encouraged to enter this year’s Green Apple Valley Art, Photo and Essay contest for a chance to be featured in next year’s town calendar.

Residents, students, business owners and their employees in Apple Valley are eligible to submit works in a variety of two-dimensional mediums including, but not limited to photos, drawings, paintings, chalks, pastels, collage and essays. All mediums can be submitted by either professional or amateur artists of any age.

Awards will be offered in categories based on the types and quantity of submissions. Selected contest entries will be published in our 2012 Green Apple Valley Calendar. Entries demonstrating the themes of leading a healthy and active lifestyle, pride in our community, ecologically friendly habits, Apple Valley landmarks and pet friendly practices are encouraged.

Entries are due September 26 by 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Winners will be publicly announced and displayed at a Town Council Meeting. Submission forms must be turned in for each entry and are available for download at www.GreenAppleValley.org or by request at Town Hall or by calling (760)240-7000 X 7072.

How is your Medicare dollar spent? The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how money is distributed through Medicare via HMOs -- Heal

2011-08-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

As we seen the govt interested in reducing health care costs without cutting patient benefits, I see opportunity. As many of my friends know, I worked for years as a Hospital Management Engineer doing studies in all areas of service. I am quite familiar with the organization of delivery services so I wrote this article. I hope it is helpful. SOooo I agree that costs can be reduced without cutting patient services. The USA has the most expensive delivery "system" yet many other countries have better outcomes.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how money is distributed through Medicare via HMOs -- Health Maintenance Organizations. HMOs were sanctioned years ago as a method of providing a high level of health care while controlling costs. To a significant extent they have been successful, but in many cases the amount of administrative overhead is significant.

Medicare is provided senior citizens by the federal government. When an HMO is designated by a Medicare recipient a monthly amount is distributed to the HMO to cover all health costs for the recipient. In this case Medicare will retain perhaps 2 percent for overhead.

The HMO maintains contracts with IPAs --Independent Physician Associations-- and hospitals and other service providers. They also decide which services will be delivered to patients. In some cases these decisions relegated to an IPA depending on the contractual relationship. There are differences among contracts so this can be fairly complex depending on the risks assumed by the HMO and IPA in their contract. The HMO retains approximately 20 - 30 percent of what they receive for overhead.
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Debt Deal: No New Taxes and No Social Security or Medicare Cuts — Yet

2011-08-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

The quickest impact on seniors will be the Social Security checks that arrive later this week. The president had warned that without an increase in the debt ceiling, he couldn't guarantee that the government would have enough borrowing authority to send out checks on August 3.

Now those checks should go out after the measure becomes law. And one of the biggest impacts on the Social Security system — a proposal to make future cost-of-living increases smaller — is off limits in the short run. The first installment of nearly $1 trillion in cuts exempts Social Security and Medicare.

"It's inadequate. There's not a lot of dispute about that," says J.D. Foster, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. "We have a huge fiscal problem and this doesn't address it that much."

Republicans, throughout the deficit battle, have resisted increases in taxes, while congressional Democrats have fought cuts to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries. Those ideas could be included in the second round of cuts — but only if the committee can get past those entrenched divisions.

"Despite what some Republicans have argued, I believe that we have to ask the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share by giving up tax breaks and special deductions. Despite what some in my own party have argued, I believe that we need to make some modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to ensure that they're still around for future generations."
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Johnson & Johnson Hip Replacement Lawsuit Spearheaded by Houston Attorney

2011-07-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

"What has happened is the friction of metal on metal has caused a shedding of metal debris that causes bone erosion and tissue death," says Blizzard. "The longer it goes on, the more likely it is that when it gets removed, the second revision surgery will not be a success." The metallic debris can include cobalt and chromium, which some medical professionals claim are cancer-causing agents.
HEALTH & MEDICAL

VVWRA deal for Victorville's plant advances

2011-07-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

It appears Victorville is closer to striking a deal with the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority to sell its distressed wastewater plant. As a member of VVWRA, Apple Valley’s Town Council will discuss the potential purchase during closed session Tuesday night. VVWRA provides sewer service for Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia and unincorporated San Bernardino County areas, with representatives from each member agency sitting on its board of directors.

In 2008, in an effort to lure Dr Pepper Snapple Group to build a bottling and distribution hub here, Victorville launched an effort to build its own wastewater treatment plant to treat flows from the beverage company. Depending on which city figure you use — with or without infrastructure needed for the project to work — Victorville’s plant has cost anywhere from $30 million to nearly $58 million to build. And it’s been fraught with problems along the way, from difficulty with financing to equipment that wasn’t installed correctly.

The Daily Press first reported the possibility of Victorville selling its plant to VVWRA more than a year ago. VVWRA’s board then asked agency staff to conduct a feasibility study on the purchase in March.
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Our latest stats; June 24 – July 23

2011-07-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

2011 Jun 24 – 2011 Jul 23

Pageviews by Countries

United States

543

Germany

Switzerland

Malaysia

France

United Kingdom

India

Ukraine

South Korea

Latvia

Pageviews by Browsers

Internet Explorer

345 (37%)

Firefox

309 (33%)

Chrome

157 (17%)

Iceweasel

46 (5%)

Safari

44 (4%)

Opera

10 (1%)

Mobile Safari

5 (<1%)

GranParadiso

1 (<1%)

Mobile

1 (<1%)

Pageviews by Operating Systems

Windows

709 (76%)

Macintosh

108 (11%)

Linux

86 (9%)

iPhone

6 (<1%)

Android

5 (<1%)

iPad

5 (<1%)

Palm

2 (<1%)

BlackBerry

1 (<1%)

PLAYSTATION 3

1 (<1%)

Inland Empire water agencies threaten to sue over suckerfish habitat rule

2011-07-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

A tiny fish unique to the watershed of Southern California is at the center of a battle that’s pitted water agencies against environmentalists. Representatives of a dozen water agencies were on Capitol Hill Monday, briefing Congressional staffers and threatening to fight the feds in court. The Santa Ana Sucker lays its eggs on the gravel creek bottoms of runoff from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains. Last December, the US Fish & Wildlife Service expanded the threatened fish’s “critical habitat” by a thousand acres.

Robert Martin, head of the East Valley Water District in San Bernardino, told Congressional staffers the rule threatens a third of the water supply for a million people who live in the Inland Empire. "Our concern is that if we get into permitting issues, one of the requirements might be to make releases of this very limited supply of water that we use for domestic purposes right now, to maintain the habitat," Martin said.

Carol Williams of the San Gabriel Valley Water Association said Fish and Wildlife refused to field concerns from local water agencies. "They felt that our estimates of costs, economic impact were speculative, even though we have 30 to 40-plus years of managing the water supply," she said. Williams said water agencies estimate it will cost about $30 million each year to replace what they’d stored in reservoirs.
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Summary of the "Gang of Six Plan"

2011-07-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Provides major tax cuts to the wealthy and large corporations.

The Gang of Six plan reduces the top marginal income tax rate for the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations from 35% to as low as 23% (about 34% lower than the top tax rates under Bush).
Instead of reforming the Alternative Minimum Tax, it abolishes it altogether providing a major tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.
It reduces the deficit by about $3.7 trillion over 10 years, while providing a net tax cut of $1.5 trillion that will mainly go to the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations.
In other words, 100% of the deficit reduction achieved by the Gang of Six plan is through spending cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, education, child care, Head Start, LIHEAP, environmental protection, and other programs that the sick, the elderly, the children, and working families need.
Any tax revenue that is raised by closing tax loopholes for large corporations must be used to lower tax rates.
Revenue raisers can not be used to increase spending at all. Revenue raisers can only be used to lower tax rates or reduce the deficit.
By moving to a territorial tax system, the Gang of Six plan will allow large corporations to avoid paying federal income taxes by outsourcing jobs overseas.

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Gang Of Six Plan Reduces Social Security Benefits By $1,300 A Year, Cuts Corporate Tax Rates

2011-07-21T04:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, President Obama all but endorsed the deficit reduction plan outlined by the Gang of Six senators. The plan still faces numerous obstacles— it’s incredibly vague on the details, has critics on both sides of the aisle, and may not even be ready by the Aug. 2 default deadline. Liberal Democrats have pointed out the plan is far from a balanced approach, asking seniors and the working poor to bear the brunt of the pain without asking the wealthy or corporations to sacrifice at all.

Two members of the Gang of Six, Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) were positively crowing about the conservative bona fides of their plan yesterday on MSNBC. Because the proposal will actually be scored as a $1.5 trillion tax cut under current law (with the Bush tax cuts set to expire in 2012), they are confident that House Republicans, who have vowed never to vote for a tax increase, will go for it.

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Bill: ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Corporations including oil companies get tax money even though they don't pay taxes.
Drug companies get windfall profits from Medicare part "D".

And the money they save creates jobs... IN CHINA.

Average folks get poorer.
Be careful what you what you wish for when you vote.

LOMA LINDA: Hospital ranked No. 1 Inland facility

2011-07-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

Loma Linda University Medical Center has been ranked No. 1 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in U.S. News Media & World Report's 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings. Loma Linda University Medical Center received recognition for 10 specialties -- up from seven specialties last year -- that were identified as "high performing:" cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; gynecology; nephrology; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology.

The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country's top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area. Loma Linda University Medical Center ranked first of the 42 hospitals in an area also known as Southern California's Inland Empire, which has a population of more than four million.

"It is with great pride that we receive the recognition of being the No. 1 hospital in Riverside-San Bernardino counties in the 2011-12 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals metro area rankings," Loma Linda University Medical Center CEO Ruthita Fike said. "This recognition is a testament to the teamwork of everyone within the hospital to provide the best possible care for our patients and support our overall mission of continuing the teaching and healing ministry of our Christian heritage," she said.
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Apple Valley builds firm foundation in contracting economy

2011-07-20T17:50:00.001-07:00

The Town of Apple Valley is "Building a Foundation for Success". With vision and planning, we are taking advantage of a slower economy to build a firm foundation - one that will support economy, community and family.

This was the message delivered by Apple Valley Mayor Scott Nassif when he presented the annual “State of the Town” address on Tuesday evening to more than 100 people.

Sharing information through a video presentation, Town officials, dignitaries, community leaders and developers shared the challenges and successes of the past year and gave a glimpse of what the community’s future holds.

Among the highlights were:

The Town’s ability to meet its budget goals without any layoffs or furloughs
Achieving sales tax growth in three of the last four quarters
Taking advantage of low construction costs to build necessary public facilities
Expanding recreational opportunities for residents and neighbors
Offering a development-friendly environment to attract new retailers
Successfully partnering with multiple agencies to move forward with construction on the Yucca Loma bridge

Looking ahead to the coming year, Apple Valley is anticipating additional transportation and infrastructure improvements as well as opening the new Public Safety Training Campus, a Victor Valley College facility that is nearing completion in north Apple Valley.

Mayor Nassif also gave an update on the most recent developments. Projects recently approved or under construction include a 10-acre solar farm and a 75,000 square-foot expansion of TruBlu Logistics, a medical equipment distributor located in the North Apple Valley Industrial Specific Plan.

Drawing the biggest applause of the evening, it was announced that escrow would close on the Apple Valley Golf Course no later than July 29, and just that morning the California Public Utilities Commission approved a request from Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company for a “deviated rate” – meaning instead of $2.19 per 100 cubic feet, the Town will pay only 71 cents per 100 cubic feet, effective five days after the close of escrow. This represents a 68% savings.

“For the first time in 63 years, the property and the water rights will be under control of the same owner, and the town will be able to take decisive action to cut costs and raise revenue” said Mayor Nassif.

A departure from previous State of the Town presentations that took place during an Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon, the event was held at the Town’s new Conference Center, utilizing the facility’s state of the art audio visual capabilities to show the presentation. The video can be viewed on the Town’s website at www.applevalley.org.

Hosted in conjunction with the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Burrtec Waste Industries, IRC Staffing and Little Caesars Pizza, the new venue made the State of the Town address more accessible to the public.

For additional information about how Apple Valley has built a foundation for success during tough economic times, visit the Town website or call (760) 240-7000 x 7070.

Guest Speaker For Today’s Woman Expo October 15, 2011

2011-07-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

The Today’s Woman Foundation and its Board of Directors is proud to announce that Dr. Susan Love, President of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and founder of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and author of The Breast Book, will be this years Today’s Woman Expo Guest Speaker on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville, California.

This will be the 11th Annual Today’s Woman Expo that the Today’s Woman Foundation along with Choice Medical Group and Choice Physicians Network has hosted. Major sponsors include Choice Medical Group, Choice Physicians Network, The Daily Press, Victorville Motors, Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Eric Hansen, D.O., RadNet Imaging and ICR Staffing, Athena Jean Day Spa and Salon just to name a few.

Dr. Susan Love is Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCLA and President of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. In addition to being founder of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, she was appointed by President Clinton to the National Cancer Advisory Board. Dr. Love has been on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as featured in the LA Times, NPR Magazine, Ms. Magazine, O Magazine and the New York Times.

For more information on sponsorship or booth reservations, please feel free to contact Diana Pasillas at 760.242.7777, Ext. 249 or Deborah Manzano at Ext. 228.
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Farm Leader Calls For Balanced Energy Policy

2011-07-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

(Victor Valley)–Smart energy policy must balance renewable and conventional sources of energy, stress self-sufficiency and avoid diluting science with politics, according to California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger.

Wenger discussed energy policy today during a speech hosted by the Consumer Energy Alliance, in conjunction with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners summer meeting in Los Angeles.

“We are making progress in renewable energy but there is still a gap in the science and the affordability of some renewable sources,” Wenger said. “Policy makers need to make an honest assessment of the potential for renewable energy sources before imposing standards that may be impractical or impossible to meet. At the same time, we must pursue safe development of available domestic sources, including offshore oil supplies and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”

Wenger noted that nearly 2,000 California farmers have installed solar panels, wind turbines or other forms of renewable energy production, making California the No. 1 state for on-farm energy generation. But he warned that renewable-energy policies have also placed some farmland under threat.

“There’s a new land rush that’s been touched off by pressure to maximize solar energy development,” he said. “Solar developers look for flat land with good solar exposure, and that often means farmland. Government policy should conserve productive farmland and limit solar development to marginally productive lands.”

Wenger said smart energy policy should also place more emphasis on hydroelectricity.

“Hydroelectric energy is an important, renewable resource, with multipurpose benefits that include flood control, water supply and recreation. But only hydro facilities smaller than 30 megawatts count toward the state’s renewable mandate,” he said. “This is a case where politics gets in the way of sound energy decisions, because reservoir construction has fallen out of favor. We must broaden our thinking in order to assure a safe and reliable domestic energy supply.”

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I-15 road work starts between Vegas, Baker

2011-07-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

California transportation officials say overnight road work will create lane restrictions until October on more than 50 miles of Interstate 15 from a few miles west of Baker, to the Nevada state line. A Caltrans statement says work was to start Monday on resurfacing the freeway from Rasor Road in San Bernardino County to Nevada.

Caltrans says work was also due to begin Monday to resurface Interstate 40 from Crucero Road to Kelbacker Road east of Barstow. Work hours in both locations will be from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. Caltrans says one lane will remain open at all times.
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East coast cuisine comes to A.V.

2011-07-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

APPLE VALLEY • Suspended from the ceiling, two brightly colored carousel horses welcome visitors to Apple Valley’s newest eatery: Carnival Hot Dog Company. “These horses are from a 1934 carousel ride in Chicago,” said Michael Nehorayan, 42, general manager of the restaurant. “It took a lot of work to restore them, but they are a thing of beauty.”

Nehorayan and business partner Tony Osman opened their Jess Ranch Marketplace restaurant last month and are still planning a grand opening. “Business has been good since we opened, but we’re still trying to work out some of the kinks,” Hehorayan said. “We’re really big on quality, customer service and cleanliness, so we need to make it right.”
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Economy boost with a local flavor

2011-07-16T16:02:00.001-07:00

APPLE VALLEY • Every Friday at 9 a.m. vendors begin setting up their booths where they set out books, jewelry, clothing and even pieces of space rocks. “Where else can you buy a meteorite and a stuffed skunk?” Brian Conner said, as he made his way from vendor to vendor at the Apple Valley Farmers Market. Conner is one of the many visitors who frequent the weekly market located at Lions Park on Highway 18.

Market operator Gary House said when he started the market, he wanted to provide a place where a business wasn’t “paying thousands of dollars a month to have a store front.” “We have 35 to 55 vendors each Friday coming from places like Yucaipa, Riverside and Lancaster,” House said. “Most of our folks are from right here in the High Desert.”
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JURY Duty Scam

2011-07-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

Pass this on to your grown children and anyone else you can think of. This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call.

Most of us take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced. The caller claims to be a jury DUTY coordinator. If you protest that you never
received a summons for jury duty, the Scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant.

Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen.The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, Colorado and more. This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.

The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites warning consumers about the fraud.

Check it out here: _http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm
(http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm)
And here: _http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp _
(http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp)

50 beautiful cats relinquished to shelter

2011-07-13T17:36:00.001-07:00

The Town of Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter is overflowing with felines after an Apple Valley resident turned in more than 50 cats.

Unlike typical hoarding cases, the animals were turned in voluntarily and the majority of them are healthy and well socialized, making them available for immediate adoption to good homes.

“These are beautiful cats,” said Cassandra Jensen, animal care specialist. “Many of them are Siamese or simply stunning mixed breed cats that we are hoping will get adopted quickly.”

According to staff reports, the cats were being cared for by a relative of the property owner who uses the residence as a vacation home. When the owner of the vacation home came for a visit, he saw the number of cats and realized the cat population had gotten out of hand in his absence.

“The intake of these animals brought the shelter’s cat count to about 200. That’s a lot. That’s a really big deal to us,” said Jensen. “Fortunately, we have received donations to adopt these cats at a reduced rate.”

To encourage the public to rescue the felines, the shelter is offering a special adoption fee of only $10 each for these cats only. The fee includes a veterinary check-up, a bag of food and the cost of the spay or neuter surgery. A refundable deposit will be required for kittens that are too young for surgery at the time of adoption.

“This special adoption event supports our ‘Save a Life Campaign’ by making it affordable for adopters to provide a permanent loving home for these adorable felines,” adds Gina Schwin-Whiteside, animal services manager. “Our goal continues to be increasing the numbers of live releases from our shelter.”

For more information regarding animal adoptions or making a donation to help adopt animals at reduced fees, contact the Town of Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter for details at (760) 240-7000 x7555 or visit www.AVAnimals.org.

Train from Las Vegas to Calif. gets environment OK

2011-07-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

A rail project that would connect Las Vegas and Southern California and could create tens of thousands of jobs is moving forward. The federal Department of Transportation has formally finished reviewing the environmental impacts of the DesertXpress and is giving planners the green light to proceed. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada announced the decision in a statement Tuesday.

A report from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas estimates the rail line would create more than 17,000 direct jobs and more than 16,000 indirect jobs in Clark County over a three-year period. The line would run from Las Vegas to Victorville in Southern California. It would eventually connect to California's planned high-speed rail system. About one-quarter of visitors to Las Vegas come from Southern California.

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Inland Empire water agencies threaten to sue over suckerfish habitat rule

2011-07-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Apple Valley State of the Town presentation - July 19

2011-07-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

Apple Valley State of the Town presentation tickets available now

Apple Valley, CA – July 7, 2011: Even during the economic downturn, the Town of Apple Valley has continued to build a foundation of success. Citizens, business owners, dignitaries and neighbors of Apple Valley are invited to come and see how the Town has continued to put these solid building blocks of economic growth in place at the State of the Town Address on July 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Admission to the presentation, which will be held in the Apple Valley Conference Center, is $15 per person and includes an appetizer reception and a cash bar. Reservations must be made by July 15 by calling the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce (760) 242-2753 or on-line at www.avchamber.com.

In previous years, the State of the Town has been presented in the middle of the day at the Apple Valley Chamber Luncheon that costs $25 per person. The change to an evening venue at the Conference Center makes the event much more accessible and affordable for guests wishing to view the presentation in person. The video portion of the presentation will be available on the Town’s website within 48 hours following the live presentation.

The Town of Apple Valley Conference Center is located at 14975 Dale Evans Parkway. Businesses or individuals interested in sponsorship opportunities may contact Kathie Martin at (760) 240-7000 ext. 7070 or email at kmartin@applevalley.org.

Concerts in The Courtyard 2011

2011-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Presented by the Apple Valley Commons Shopping Center

Thursday night concerts are back by popular demand!

Click here for an overview video!

Enjoy a chance to reconnect with friends, family and neighbors for great music in 2011 featuring rock, R&B and jazz from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Courtyard of Apple Valley Commons. Please bring chairs as the event draws quite a crowd!

May 5 - Cloudy Reed (Classic Rock)

May 12 - Jaye Sooter & Friends (Acoustic/Southern Rock)

May 19 - High-D Boys (Jazz/Folk)

May 26 - Desert Reign (Classic Rock/Journey Tribute Band)

September 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29

Where: The Courtyard

Time: 5:30 -7:30 pm

Cost: Free

The Courtyard is a beautiful outdoor dining area located at Apple Valley Commons which is at the northwest corner of Highway 18 and Dale Evans Pkwy.

This event is made possible through the generosity of Apple Valley Commons and Lewis Retail Centers and is hosted by the Town of Apple Valley.

Click here for the flyer!

Click here for the overview video!

For more event details please call (760) 240-7000 X 7071

I.E. officials fight for water

2011-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Officials from more than a dozen Inland Empire water agencies and cities will meet today with a congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to voice opposition to a critical habitat plan for a federally endangered fish. In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed 9,331 acres in portions of creeks and rivers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties as critical habitat for the Santa Ana sucker - a gray fish with a silvery-white underbelly and dark blotches and stripes - found in freshwater from Anaheim to the San Bernardino Mountains.

But it means a loss of 125,800 acre-feet of San Bernardino County mountain water each year, and will cost ratepayers more than $2.9 billion over 25 years for imported water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, water officials said. "Our water supply that we have been using for over 100 years is now in jeopardy because the water we have been delivering to homes and businesses can now be claimed to be needed for the fish," said Douglas Headrick, the general manager of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. "We don't dislike the fish. We like the fish. But we shouldn't be making public policy decisions on sloppy science, and that's what we believe has happened."

The water agencies will request that the Department of the Interior rescind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's action in December amending its critical habitat plan. In addition, the agencies are requesting that Fish and Wildlife be required to continue working with them to improve research and conservation efforts for the Santa Ana sucker, and that Congress state that all policies and conservation efforts be based on the best available science, as is typically required under the Endangered Species Act.
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Proposal For Barstow Casino Advances

2011-07-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

A rendering of the proposed Barstow Casino. Photo Courtesy http://www.barstowcasinoproject.com/

The approval process for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians to develop an Indian gaming facility in Barstow is advancing to the next step.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) today published a draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) in the Federal Register, initiating an official 75-day public comment period.

Conceptual rendering of the proposed Barstow Casino “We just completed the most extensive portion of the process necessary to take land into trust,” said Los Coyotes spokesman Shane Chapparosa. “This marks a huge step forward for the Tribe, and for Barstow.

For the past ten years, we have worked with Barstow, California and DOI officials to follow the procedure traditionally used by tribes to obtain land for off-reservation gaming to bring viable economic development to both of our communities.

The proposed $160 million Los Coyotes Barstow development is projected to create more than 1,065 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs for the city of Barstow and surrounding areas. This includes 823 jobs at the facility and 262 jobs that will be created as a result of the casino construction and operation.

As proposed, the casino resort would include: 57,000 square feet of gaming floor space, 1,325 slot machines, 57 table games, 100-room hotel conference/meeting, room space, dining and entertainment options.

“The city of Barstow is very encouraged by this long awaited step forward,” said Barstow City councilman Tim Silva. “This project is critical to revitalizing our local economy. It will provide jobs and a real economic boost to our community.”

Located on I-15, the main highway from Southern California to Las Vegas, the casino would primarily capture revenues that are currently going to Nevada – adding jobs that would be new and additional to California.

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Mojave Water Agency Moves Into New Headquarters

2011-07-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

Pictures Courtesy of Mojave Water Agency.

“Really, our mission is to have a sustainable water supply. This facility was designed for sustainability: designed to make sure water that percolates down and that we don’t lose evaporation of storm water, make sure we have drip meters so we don’t lose to evaporation the water that were putting on our irrigation, and then that we make sure that we have the customer’s best interest in mind by being able to be available to them in one common place” stated Tamara Alaniz of the Mojave Water Agency on their brand new facility.

The new facility is down the street from their old site, now located at 13846 Conference Center Drive in Apple Valley. A stunning building that can clearly be seen from Highway 18, the new facility clocks in at 22,194 square feet for the administration building and a 6,296 square foot warehouse. Equipped with photovoltaic solar panels, high efficiency plumbing features, and implementing storm water management practices, have all helped the site become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified.

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Scammers target business owners

2011-07-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

When Betty Ross was going through her mail a few weeks ago, she was shocked to find that her fictitious business name filing for her Barstow salon had expired according to an officials looking letter. “They were saying I hadn’t paid my FBN,” Ross said. “I knew I had paid it and I had gone through the newspaper.” Concerned the Daily Press hadn’t completed the filing, Ross called the office. She soon learned her FBN was current and on file and the letter she had received was mostly an attempt to scam her out of nearly $500. Ross’s story isn’t an isolated case, according to the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk’s office.

Authorities have received several reports from business owners stating they have received official-looking letters advising them their FBNs had expired and they owed anywhere from $125 to $500. Ross is glad she took the time to research the letter before sending anything in but knows that there may be others who may not take those extra steps. “You have to be aware of things like this and keep your head up,” Ross said. “They are out there and they are trying to scam you in so many ways. You always have to be aware.” Anyone who feels they may have been victimized can fill out a complaint with the Assessor’s Office. The form can be found Online by logging onto www.ag.ca.gov/consumer/general.php.

Black Hawks to leave SCLA

2011-07-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

After nearly a decade of calling Southern California Logistics Airport home, Army officials say eight Black Hawk helicopters, 58 part-time Army Reserve soldiers and 29 full-time workers are relocating soon some 90 miles away to Los Alamitos. The Army recently approved transferring the Black Hawks to the Joint Forces Training Base. Carmen Call, an Army environmental protection specialist, has said the move is expected after October.

However, the Army in December renewed its lease with SCLA through June 2014, in an agreement that requires a 6-month termination notice. And so far, Victorville spokeswoman Monica Petersen said the city hasn’t received notice from the Black Hawks. “If we get a notice to terminate, we will market the facility and attempt to lease it out,” Petersen said in an emailed response.

The Army leases hangar space at SCLA for upwards of $360,000 each year, with an expected loss of nearly $1 million in revenue if the unit bails early. Mayor Ryan McEachron said they’ve heard from other companies interested in leasing helicopter hangar space at SCLA, confident they can find a new tenant if the Black Hawks indeed leave.
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View of San Francisco Bay From a Blimp

2011-07-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

I'm still giddy over having had the opportunity to ride in, and photograph the only Zeppelin in the United States. The 'Eureka' is one of a new breed of lighter than air ships manufactured by the Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH, and operated by Airship Ventures. Based out of Moffett Field (in Mountain View, CA), the Eureka offers sight-seeing rides of the Bay Area and Monterey. Riding on the Eureka, and becoming a Zep head was truly a remarkable, and unforgettable experience!

Bill: one of our neighbors, ELSBETH MANZANO, forwarded this to me.
view article in Vacation Ideas -- where there are many other great articles and videos

Things to do in Big Bear

2011-07-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

THE LIST—Things To Do, Places To Visit, Engaging Activities
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Check out "Calendars & Activities" on the left for an amazing list of local activities.

Town works to trim golf course costs

2011-07-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

APPLE VALLEY • In the wake of the Town Council’s decision to close escrow on Apple Valley Golf Course, staff plans to launch a series of cost-cutting measures expected to reduce the ongoing subsidy required to run the business and maintain the property.

If Apple Valley can implement all 11 proposed strategies, a staff report states expenses will drop between $741,000 and $886,000 annually. That would mean a $134,540 to $279,540 operating profit during the 2011-12 fiscal year, instead of the $606,460 deficit Apple Valley Golf Course is otherwise expected to post.

Apple Valley has accumulated $3 million in debt since voting to take over the property in 2008. But with the proposed cuts and the approved sale of $2.9 million in water rights from the town’s golf course fund to its wastewater fund, staff is predicting the business may be in the black by next summer. However, several of the suggested changes are not a lock and may rely on interfund transfers down the road.

The town is hoping to work out an arrangement where Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority will sink a new well to replace the one that broke down shortly after Apple Valley took over the course. That’s expected to eliminate a one-time $500,000 capital expense for the town, plus cut $280,000 in annual irrigation costs once Apple Valley can start utilizing the water rights it owns — if VVWRA’s board approves the move.

Roughly one-third of the projected revenue increase is attributed to a $250,000 spike from leasing out the water rights that would no longer be needed once the new well is in place. However, per council action approved last week, the town’s wastewater fund now owns the water rights and would therefore be expected to collect any lease revenue.
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Prem Reddy foundation to own Victor Valley hospital

2011-07-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

Dr. Prem Reddy’s nonprofit Prime Healthcare Services Foundation is poised to purchase Victor Valley Community Hospital for $35 million, in the second deal the bankrupt hospital has struck in less than a year. VVCH spokeswoman Lovella Sullivan confirmed Thursday that the hospital accepted the offer from Prime.

The Ontario-based foundation is the nonprofit arm of Reddy’s hospital management company Prime Healthcare Services, which owns Desert Valley Hospital. “We will keep it as a not-for-profit hospital,” Lex Reddy said, with the foundation currently running Encino and Montclair hospital medical centers as nonprofits.

Lex Reddy said the quality of care will be the primary focus as Prime takes control of the nearly 45-year-old facility, with plans to add more full-time jobs to help with continuity for patients. He said Prime also plans to immediately begin investing in upgrading the hospital’s radiology equipment, getting its lab recertified and doing a detailed analysis of how the High Desert’s only nonprofit community hospital ended up in the situation it’s in.
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Daddy-daughter big ride

2011-07-08T03:22:00.000-07:00

Many people have made the scenic trip down the coast of California from San Francisco to Los Angeles. They marvel at the majesty of giant redwoods and cascading beauty of Big Sur. But few can say they have seen those sights from a bicycle built for two. “I’m nervous just because it’s a huge accomplishment,” said Daylynn Weinberg, 31, of Victorville. “I just want to be able to say I was able to do it.”

For the last three months, Weinberg and her father, retired San Bernardino County Sheriff’s lieutenant David Weinberg, have been training on the tandem bike for the nearly 500-mile trip. “It’s a great trip and it’s incredibly difficult,” said David Weinberg, who’s made the trip seven times. Three months ago when they began training, an unstructured practice outing turned into a long-distance ride.

This trip will begin at the Golden Gate Bridge and continue down the coast until they reach the Los Angeles area. They will take a train up to San Francisco on July 26 and begin their ride the following day. They will carry their supplies on their bike and camp along the way at various state parks.
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