Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and is traditionally celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of summer.

Some Labor Day traditions:

• Since 1966, the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association has been held on Labor Day weekend, and raises tens of millions of dollars each year to fund research and patient support programs for the various diseases grouped as muscular dystrophy.
• Labor Day weekend also marked the annual running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The race was run at any time during the weekend from 1950-2002. In 2004, NASCAR began racing on Labor Day Weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
• Chicago’s Taste of Polonia, a Polish-themed festival celebration of Polish cultural heritage, traditions, and customs on the grounds of the Copernicus Foundation in Jefferson Park, brings in crowds of well over 30,000 people each year.
• Mackinac Bridge Walk is an annual even held every Labor Day since 1958 in Michigan in which people may walk the length of the Mackinac Bridge.
• Popular fashion etiquette dictates that white should not be worn after Labor Day. The custom is fading however; fashion magazines are jumping on this growing trend, calling people who ‘dare’ to wear white after Labor Day innovative, creative, and bold.

Are you like me, where you sometimes get confused during which time of year both Labor Day and Memorial Day fall?  Because I was born in September, which is when Labor Day is celebrated, I equate the word ‘labor’ with being born; hence, Labor Day and September go hand-in-hand.

Whatever your family tradition this Labor Day, Tara and I hope you have fun with safety and kindness in mind!

Hot Weather Pet Care

We are in store for more hot weather this year. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do, such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. Please consider the following, and sometimes overlooked, tips to help your pets beat the heat:

• NEVER leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace.
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool.
• Not all dogs are good swimmers, so if water sports are a big part of your family, please introduce your pets to water gradually.
• Try not to let your pets drink pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause GI upset.
• Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting and drooling and mild weakness, along with an elevated body temperature.
• Do not apply sunscreen or insect repellent to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can leed to neurological problems.
• Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, and Lhasa apsos should be kept cool as much as possible.
• Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems. Shave hair to a one-inch length — never down to the skin, which robs Rover of protection from the sun. Cats should be brushed often.
• When the temperature is high, don’t let your dog stand on hot asphalt because their sensitive paw pads can burn.
• Provide fresh water every single day!
• Provide plenty of shade for outdoor pets — a proper dog house serves best.

By taking some simple precautions, you can celebrate the season and keep your pets happy and healthy!

Getting Around Downtown Riverside… For FREE

With gas still close to the $4.00 range it’s great to know that you can get around downtown Riverside on the cheap.

At just 25 cents a ride, getting around downtown has never been easier. Best of all, the ride is FREE if you’re a county or city employee,  juror or have a valid parking receipt.

This map will show you the two lines, the green and red line and the stops each make.

The green line operates between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The red line from 7:30 a.m. till 6:07 p.m.

For more information visit: http://www.riversidetransit.com

4209 Rosewood Pl.

[ SOLD for $269,900 ]  Sold in one week! You’ll be hard-pressed to find a home this nice in today’s market! This is not a short sale or repo!! Truly turn key Spanish-Mediterranean in the historical “Wood Streets” neighborhood with new interior paint, new ext trim paint, remodeled kitchen, indoor laundry, remodeled bathroom, glorious hardwood floors, antique Batchelder fireplace, elegant and spacious formal dining room plus a breakfast nook! Stackable washer/dryer, refrigerator & stove are all included! If the gorgeous home isn’t enough, then step outside to enjoy the beautiful and private backyard complete with large Mexican-tile patio, cabana bar with electricity for spa hook-ups, and a mesmerizing koi pond with turtles, waterfall and plants! Enjoy the shade of the mature crape myrtle tree, tan yourself on the patio, or pick tomatoes in your own garden. The detached one-car garage has a newer roll-up door with plenty of room inside for one car or lots of storage. This home is truly a gem and needs absolutely nothing but YOU!

When You Move, Here Are 3 Things You Don’t Want To Forget!

When you move there seems to be an endless list of things you need to change. Here are three more, and the forms to help you.

Change of address for the DMV

Change of address for the IRS

Voter Registration – Change of address

These are all PDF forms that you can print out, fill out and mail in.

8 Ways To Improve Your Credit

Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a factor in determining if you’ll qualify for a loan and what loan type you can qualify for.

1. Check for and correct errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for someone else’s poor financial management.
2. Pay down credit card bills. If possible, pay off the entire bill every month. However, transferring credit card debt from one to another could lower your credit score.
3. Don’t charge your credit cards to the maximum limit.
4. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a home loan. You may be penalized less for problems after a year.
5. Before you buy your new home, don’t order items for the home on credit, such as appliances and flooring, until after your loan has closed. The amounts will add to your debt and can negatively impact your loan at the last minute.
6. Don’t open new credit card accounts before applying for a new mortgage. Having too much available credit can lower your credit score.
7. Shop for mortgage rates all at once. Too many credit applications can lower your score, yet multiple inquiries from the same type of lender are counted as one inquiry if submitted over a short period of time.
8. Avoid finance companies. Even if you pay the loan on time, the interest is high and it will probably be considered a sign of poor credit management.

Meals on Wheels – Theater Night

On September 18, 2008, Riverside Community Players will be presenting “Leading Ladies”.  This is ‘Meals on Wheels’ only fund raising event each year.

Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc. is a local, non-profit volunteer organization in operation since 1972, providing noon-time delivery of hot, nutritious dinner-style meals Monday – Friday. Their services are geared toward house-bound residents, seniors and anyone who is handicapped or has special needs within the City of Riverside. Meals can be prepared to meet special dietary requirements. This organization receives no funding from local, state or government agencies and is heavily dependent on volunteers. Any donations and/or volunteer service are always welcome.

Riverside Community Players is “theater-in-the-round” with 183 seats wherein the audience surrounds the stage. The play “Leading Ladies” is about two down-on-their-luck English Shakespearean actors, touring in the Amish country of Pennsylvania, who hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost English nephews. They resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. However, when they arrive in York they discover that the relatives are not nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound in Ken Ludwig’s newest farce.

Tickets are $30 each
Food and drinks will be served starting at 6 p.m.
Theater doors open for the show at 7:45 p.m.
There will be a raffle at the event — tickets are $2.
In addition, there will be a Grand Prize drawing – tickets are $5 or 3 for $10

For more information you can contact Kathleen at (951) 683-7151 or kathleen@riversidemealsonwheels.org

3573 Beechwood Pl

[ SOLD for $375,000 ]  This spectacular and spacious ”Wood Streets” neighborhood home sits upon one of the most desired streets…everyone wants to live here! 1920s architectural features and built-ins abound in this one-of-a-kind distinctive residence! 3 bedrms, 2 bths and approx 2350 sq ft! Recently refinished hardwood floors in all 3 bedrms and large formal dining room. Walk-in closets, walk-in pantry, built-in hutch, indoor laundry, newer air/furnace, house and garage re-roofed in 1996, updated plumbing, updated kitchen, breakfast nook, refurbished original bthrm fixtures, original glass door knobs throughout home, and huge permitted family room overlooking backyard. True 2-car garage with auto roll-up door can easily accommodate two Cadillacs side-by-side! Current owners have lived here almost 30 years and are retiring out-of-area; no other reason they would leave this highly sought-after nostalgic neighborhood! Call NOW to submit your offer!

Riverside Gets Its First Marathon

On September 13th and 14th Riverside will get its first marathon. The event is part of the three part IE Tripleset. Expect a fun-filled weekend starting with the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday and the Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Runs on Sunday.

They are also looking for volunteers to help with:

• Health and Fitness Expo
• Water Stations
• Cheering and Spirit Stations
• Course Guides
• Clean up

If you would like to participate in the race or volunteer, you can contact:

Tania Baxter | (909) 874-5480 | 229 South Olive, Rialto, CA 92376

or visit their website.

Fake Water Inspectors in Riverside

There are two impostors going to homes in Riverside and saying they are there to check your water for contaminants and that two people had died in the area.

On August 1st, a couple in the city’s historic downtown area became victims of the scam. One thief engaged the couple in conversation while his partner roamed through the house. After the impostors left, the couple realized that some jewelry was missing and things had been searched through.

The police department urges “all citizens to be aware of such scams or similar incidents involving door-to-door solicitors”.

Anyone with information about the scammers is encouraged to contact Riverside police at (951) 826-8716.

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