Happy Memorial Day

This year, think of Memorial Day as something more than a three-day weekend.  Make it a day to remember and honor those who have died in service to our country!

Observe by:

*  Visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

*  Display your United States flag daily, but fly at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day.

*  Volunteer or visit your local VA hospital.

*  Send a care package to a soldier through www.usa.org.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to fallen, past and present soldiers alike for all you’ve done, and will do, for our country!

Chili Cook-Off & Car/Cycle Show

Riverside’s Inland Empire Regional 8th Annual Chili Cook-off & Car/Cycle Show is this Saturday, May 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Magnolia Avenue from Van Buren to Jackson.

There will be:

Food
Craft Fair
Car/Cycle Show
Beer Garden
Little Mr. Hot Sauce & Little Miss Chili Peppers contests

Are you an expert chili taster?  If so, YOU are needed for the Chili Tasting from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information, please call (951) 509-1100.

NO COST Attic Insulation!

Usually when you hear about something that sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  Well, take it straight from the Realtors’ mouths on this one — it’s definitely true this time!  Tara and I had new insulation installed just this morning (see photo of my attic), in each of our homes here in the Wood Streets, and it is going to cost us NOTHING!

As long as you are a customer of Riverside Public Utilities and Southern California Gas, and you have the insulation installed by the DEADLINE of June 30, 2010 you will qualify for the rebates.  You could also end up with cash in your pocket due to a 30% Federal Tax Credit!

Don’t delay!  The sooner you call Richard Mask at (951) 218-4257 with Cell-Spray, the better.  There is only so much time for the company to install insulation for the many homeowners who will be interested in this amazing opportunity.

Below is a cost analysis for an average attic space of 1200 square feet.  In this example, Cell-Spray would be adding a 10-inch layer of high performance (R-30) insulation.

What are you waiting for?  Not only is this FREE… but you will save money on your utility bills, which is ultimately a huge positive impact on our environment!

1st Annual Xeriscape* Tour and Festival

Come join the Wood Streets Green Team, the Sierra Club – San Gorgonio Chapter and Western Municipal Water District this Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Riverside Plaza.  This two-part event will be educational and offer a treasure trove of beauty, as well as elevate your water-wise consciousness! 

Part 1 — the FESTIVAL will be held at the action spot in Riverside (The Riverside Plaza).  Main Street will be closed and the street will be lined with booths sponsored by non-profits and businesses, all selected to provide ideas and resources to help you convert your home or business landscaping into a dollar and water-saving visual delight! 

Part 2 — The free, self-guided TOUR will consist of award-winning low-water landscapes throughout the city of Riverside (maps provided at the Sierra Club booth at the Festival Event).

Riverside Public Works will have a composting display.  Despite recent rain, drought will be a permanent fixture in California and combined with the recession, this will help you save water and money at the same time — a win/win event! 

Luke and Suzie Gray, local homeowners of Riverside County, took it upon themselves to re-vamp their yard to reflect their concerns for the environment.  They phased out their grass and introduced drought-tolerant plants. 

*Are you wondering, “What is the definition of the word, XERISCAPE”?  This unique word means: environmental design of residential and park land using various methods for minimizing the need for water use.

For more information, please call 951-684-6203 or look online at www.sangorgonio.sierraclub.org.

Vintage Home Tour

Old Riverside Foundation for Historic Preservation presents the 19th Annual Vintage Home Tour (“A Walk in the Woods”) taking place on Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All six homes on the 2010 self-guided tour are located in the Wood Street Historic District.  Pre-sale tickets are $15 and are available at: A to Z Printing, Center Lumber, Gardener’s Cottage, Mission Galleria, Moreno Valley Flower Box, Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, Woodcrest Library, or online at www.oldriverside.org.  Tickets are available on the day of the tour for $18 at the Peter Weber House.

Each year, Old Riverside Foundation features fine examples of the many styles of architecture prevelant in Riverside at the height of its prosperity.  Different homes are open each year and give visitors a great experience of “Old Riverside”.

The tour is held each year the Saturday following Mother’s Day and makes a great treat for all the Moms you know!

Enjoy a peek at some of the homes that will be on the tour.  For more info on this tour, please call (951) 2725, or email Nancy Parrish: factsgirl@aol.com.

<slide your cursor over each photo for detailed information on that home>

 

To Mothers Everywhere…

Riverside Animal Shelter Grand Opening/Adopt-a-Thon!

You are invited to attend the Grand Opening event on Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  With more than 67,000 square feet of structures and kennels on a 12-acre site, the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter is now one of the biggest in Southern California.

All dogs that are adopted that day will receive a complimentary grooming before they go home, thanks for Four Paws Inn of Banning.  Everyone will be looking snazzy!  Pass this information on to your family and friends.  Most importantly, there are more than 700 animals ready for adoption into lifelong, loving homes! 

There will be a trolley (from 10 am to 2 pm) to transport people between the Wiener Fest at Fairmount Park and the Western Riverside Animal Shelter Grand Opening at 6851 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside 92503. 

There will also be live entertainment, free BBQ, on-site pet adoptions, face painting and bouncers for the kids, live music, free vendors galore, and Paul Mitchell haircuts by his certified stylists for only $15.00 each (haircuts for people, not the dogs).

Special appearances by:

Kermit Alexander, former NFL 49er
Darrell Thomas, former L.A. Dodger
Armando Muniz, former Professional Boxer

For more information on the Animal Shelter grand opening, call 951-955-0578.  For more information on the Wiener Fest, call 951-233-2413.