CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS! 

This Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, take part in a college scavenger race involving the four higher education campuses in the City of Riverside and vie to win money for books!  Discover some of Riverside’s treasures while competing for money in a race against time and peers!

Teams of 3 with college ID only costs $20.00.  Free t-shirts for the first 150 teams to register! There will be a scavenger hunt, prizes for the top five teams, food and fun!  Grand prize: Each member of the winning team will win a $500 book scholarship. 

Click here to register today!  For more informtion, please call (951) 826-2436.

The College Council of Riverside (CCOR) is an advisory group of students from the four higher education campuses (UCR, RCC, CBU, LSU) working to promote Riverside as a “university community” by elevating quality off-campus experiences, engaging in activities that encourage a “college” culture, and connecting students and recent alumni to the region’s workforce through internships.

SANTA will be making a special appearance at 3943 Chapman Place (the house with the train) this Saturday, December 10th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Santa’s helpers will be serving hot chocolate, cookies and cupcakes for children and adults!  If you forget your camera, we’ll take photos for you.

The train will be
spouting off real smoke, and the wheels actually turn ’round and ’round, with real train sounds too!   Kids, young and old, can sit inside the train for photo opportunities. 

Many people are
curious as to when
the Chapman Place Christmas decoration tradition began.  One
of our neighbors did some research and found a 1966 Press-Enterprise newspaper article.  The
tradition of decorating the street was proposed in 1950 by Chapman Place resident Charles M. Wilson. 

 In 1950, the west end of the street was still an orange grove, yet the homeowners gathered in Charlie’s garage to make 8-foot tall Christmas trees out of aluminum foil.  The 1966 newspaper photo showcased
life-sized lit candlesticks that lined the street, which the current residents reproduced and put in place this year for the whole neighborhood to enjoy! 

Take a stroll down Chapman Place tonight….

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Let us all be grateful for our loved ones, a roof over our head, the food with which we satisfy our hunger, and the ability to be consciously grateful for all that we have.  We wish you a most grateful Thanksgiving, and leave you with three thoughts of gratitude: 

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; 
to the honest man it comes as frequently
as the heart of gratitude will allow.  –Edward Sandford Martin

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them
is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. –W.T. Purkiser

 As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.  –John Fitzgerald Kennedy

What is a Veteran?

A “Veteran” — whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve — is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to, and including his/her life”.

We thank all the Veterans, who are now serving, or who have served in the past.  Thank you, and your families, for your sacrifices. 

No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 5 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, the ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet(s) safe.

1)  No tricks, no treats:  That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy.  Chocolate in all forms — especially dark or baking chocolate — can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.  If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

2)  Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets.  Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she doesn’t mind.  For pets who prefer their “birthday suits”, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

3)  A carved pumpking certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle.  Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.  Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

4)  When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside; best to lock them in a bedroom or bathroom for safe keeping on Halloween night.

 5) IDs, please!!  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.  If for any reason, your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and/or microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she be returned to you.

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN from our house, and pets, to yours!!!

Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, as children, Tara and I would visit relatives in Manhattan every summer.  We remember visiting the World Trade Center shortly after it first opened in 1973.  The photo above was taken when my father and I visited the Empire State Building in the late 1990s.  In May 2006, we sadly visited what was once the World Trade Center.  To actually stand where the carnage took place was surreal, and overwhelmingly sad.

No one will forget the lives lost in Manhattan, the Pentagon, or the Shanksville Pennsylvania field on that fateful day, ten years ago.  We bow our heads in silence…

Celebrated by the government as a day to recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers, Labor Day was conceptualized in the late 1800s when labor unions formed.  Today, Labor Day signifies a day without labor where government entities and many private employers allow their workforces to take a day off with pay. 

This Labor Day, as you sip some lemonade, please don’t forget to give a toast to those who made it possible.  Without them, there would be no standard 8-hour workdays and minimum wage!

Tonight, Thursday, August 25th, is the last night for “Movies and Music on Main”.  Join us for fantastic and FREE family fun on Main Street (between University and Mission Inn Avenue)! 

Bring your chairs and blankets and join us downtown at 7 p.m. to enjoy live musical entertainment.  This week’s movie, “Tangled”, begins at 8 p.m. and will be projected on a big screen.

Popcorn and refreshments available.  Local eateries will be open late.

A huge ”Thank You” to the Riverside Downtown Partnership for putting on this great summer event!

It’s another Independence Day here in the good ‘ol United States of America, filled with barbecues, baseball games and some wholesome fun for the family, topped off with the age-old tradition of lighting up the night sky with dazzling fireworks.  There’s only one problem… many of our beloved pets have no idea what’s going on and become frightened and anxious.

The hysteria caused by the loud noises of fireworks and celebrations can lead animals to destructuve behavior.  Birds might begin to pick at themselves, dogs can jump through windows to get in, or out of, the house and away from perceived danger, cats claw furniture, and the list goes on and on.  Many pets escape from their homes during this time and this can lead to fatal consequences.  To help take the edge off your pets’ fear and keep them safe, we recommend the following:

A light sedative, such as Acepromazine, is highly effective in calming your dog’s nerves.  It’s a pill that is given 4 hours prior to the fireworks show, or big party.  Dogs may become a little drowsy and mostly want to sleep, but that is much better than them being terrified. 

Another idea is to keep your pet in an area where they cannot escape.  We sometimes put our cats in a pet carrier about 30 minutes before the fireworks begin.  Another good place to put an anxious pet is in a small bathroom or laundry room because usually windows are higher than normal and pets would not be able to jump through in an attempt to escape.

Make sure birds’ cages are locked properly, and place a cover or blanket over the cage so they will feel calmer; maybe put on some soothing music or other sounds to help drown out the sound of the fireworks.

If you’re not into watching fireworks yourself, then it’s always a comfort to your pets to have you there with them at such a scary and confusing time.  Make sure to have some treats ready and lots of comforting words, hugs and pats on the head.

We hope these these tips help reduce your pets’ stress during this exciting and loud holiday.  Here’s wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day!