COMMUNITY
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Whether you are in a relationship or not this Valentine’s Day, you can still give the wonderful gift of a blood donation. Giving something truly special of yourself today or any other day of the year is the ultimate act of kindness.
Today, February 14, 2011, is also National Organ Donor Day. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving the ultimate gift of love by signing up to become an organ and tissue donor. In the time it takes you to order flowers or buy a box of chocolates, you can register and become an organ donor.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated Valentine’s Day as National Organ Donor Day since 1998 to raise awareness of the lives than can be touched — potentially more than 50 at a time — through one person becoming an organ and tissue donor.
You can find a local blood donation center in the United States here, and become an organ donor by clicking here. Over a year ago, I signed up with Life Stream which is the new name for the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, and just minutes ago registered as an organ donor with Donate Life California.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
~April Glatzel
Street Cleaning Tickets
Those of us who live in the Wood Streets neighborhood are well aware of the new street sweeping schedules, due to the signs posted on our streets. However, most of us have not been made aware of the TICKETS that the City is writing! That’s right… be aware that your vehicles must not be parked on the street during the street sweeping times posted, even if the street sweeper has come and gone!
I saved my neighbor from being ticketed. Just as I was telling her she needs to pull her car off the street, a City car came barreling down towards us with his flashing light going round-and-round. I informed the City worker that my neighbor was getting her car keys in order to move the car. No ticket this time!
Be safe on the roads, and mind the street signs to avoid being ticketed. ~April
Sustainable Living and Household Toxins Workshop
If you have time on Sunday, January 23, 2011 between 3 and 5 p.m., ride your bike, or take a leisurely stroll, down to the Hall of Fame (next to the bookstore) on the RCC campus for another informative Wood Streets Green Team workshop.
Why would you put organic food on a dish washed with toxin-containing detergent or buy organic fiber clothing and wash it in laundry detergent that contains harmful chemicals? This workshop will identify many household toxins, raise your consciousness about their health impacts, and offer alternative solutions.
When: January 23, 2011 from 3 pm to 5 pm
Location: Riverside City College (RCC) campus
Street: Hall of Fame (by the bookstore)
Phone: (951) 323-7323 — Susan Fahrney
Wishes, A Hug, and Tears…
While finishing my last-minute Christmas shopping the other day, I looked at the many faces that passed and wondered if (and hoped) that they were having a wonderful holiday season. I wished their stress would disappear after buying gifts, I wished their loved ones would be nearby, I wished for smiles on every child’s face, and I especially wished for the sick to be pain-free and healthy very soon. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the fast-paced shopping season and forget what’s really important.
Trying to decide which store to walk into next, my eyes fell upon a young man in military fatigues walking by with his girlfriend. As he approached, I walked up to him, stared right in his eyes and said with conviction, “THANK YOU!” Without hesitation, he stretched out his arms and gave me the biggest heartfelt hug and said, “It’s Christmas time, I think a hug is appropriate.”
WOW!
As I continued walking in the opposite direction from the soldier, my eyes teared up for quite a few reasons. I wondered just how many other strangers actually take the time to thank that young man or other members of our military. I wondered how long he would be able to spend time with his family before being deployed again. I wondered if he realized just how much I appreciated him.
The only good thing about waiting til the last minute to do my Christmas shopping was this most wonderful encounter! My wish for everyone this season is to find the love in your heart, the smile on your face, and the passion of life!
Merry Christmas this 25th day of December, 2010!
~April Glatzel
Give the Gift of Life!
What if this holiday season you choose to help save a life? Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor – a person like you who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for your donation. The truth is that more than 500 donations of lifesaving blood are needed each day to meet emergency and ongoing patient needs in Southern California. In fact, every 3 to 4 seconds of every day, someone needs a blood transfusion.
That’s where YOU come in. 
If you are a healthy person (with no infections or illness and no history of Hepatitis from age 11 or older), at least 17 years of age (15 or 16 years with a signed LifeStream parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds, you are needed! LifeStream is a private, not-for-profit blood center, founded in 1951 that serves more than 50 hospitals throughout Southern California. They operate five donor centers (click here for locations) in San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, La Quinta and Hesperia along with mobile blood drives held daily at local businesses, churches, government agencies and schools. Their toll free number is 1-800-TRY GIVING (1-800-879-4484).
If you aren’t near a LifeStream location, please contact American Red Cross. To find out where you can donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
When you make a blood donation, you join a very select group. Currently only 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood. Call and make an appointment today.
Giving blood could very well be the best gift you could give this holiday season!
Happy Holidays!