Paintbrush Trail

Relay for Life Meeting - DHS Cancer Walk - Community Event

2009-01-05T19:29:00.000-08:00

Relay for Life Meeting

Desert Hot Springs Senior Center‎

11777 West Drive

Desert Hot Springs, CA‎

Thursday, January 8, 2009

6:00 p.m.

(760) 329-0222‎

Join us at the Desert Hot Springs Senior Center on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 6 p.m. for a meeting about an upcoming DHS Cancer Walk called the Relay for Life.

The Senior Center is located right behind the Carl May Center on West Drive. Mapquest the directions if needed. Above is a map. If more details are needed please contact Pat Carney.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting to coordinate a DHS cancer walk.

Neighborhood Meeting Notice

2009-01-04T13:33:00.001-08:00

We hope everyone had a restful and satisfying holiday season. Now, as promised, it's time for our next Neighborhood Meeting. Please mark your calendar...

January 17, 2009

10 a.m.

VFW
(South B-BAR-H Ranch)

We have guests coming to the meeting from Code Enforcement. Improvement Specialists Chaka Osborne and Regina Keyes from Code Enforcement will be introduced and asked to tell us more about how we can keep our neighborhood looking good. We can ask questions, discuss situations, and learn more about the Code Enforcement policies and procedures. Chaka was the driving force behind the last Clean Up Day we participated in at Bubbling Wells Elementary School. Let's ask her about getting her Department to sponsor a Clean Up Day specifically for the North and South B-BAR-H Ranch.

Here's the tenative agenda for the January 17th meeting:

New Year Welcome by President Curtis Schway
Guest Speaker Introductions by Secretary Anna Miller
Chaka Osborne, Code Enforcement Improvement Specialist
Regina Keyes, Code Enforcement Improvement Specialist
Audience Open Discussion: Questions for Code Enforcement
Neighborhood Party by Toni M. Ringlein

Please feel free to contact Webmaster(at)PaintbrushTrail.com if you would like to add an agenda item. We look forward to seeing you on January 17th.

Happy Holidays from B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association

2008-12-04T11:52:00.001-08:00

Elf Curtis --------- Elf Guy ----------- Elf Jim

May your holidays be filled with happiness and your new year filled with joy!

***********

Please mark your calendar for our next Neighborhood Meeting.

January 17, 2009
VFW Hall
10 a.m.

(Details to follow via email.)

Fa la la la la, la la la la!

A message from T. Boone Pickens

2008-11-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

A message from T. Boone Pickens

Years ago my dad told me that we always need to get behind the new President, regardless of who we vote for. He told me that after Election Day, we all go back to being Americans first and party loyalists second.

His advice to me then is just as important today as it was then - maybe even more so.

President-elect Obama will need our help to end our addiction to foreign oil. The answer to this problem is not about one idea or one individual - it’s about all of us coming together to solve this problem.

I'm sending President-elect Obama a hand-written note congratulating him on his victory and would like to ask you to do the same - an email, post-card or letter – regardless of whether or not you voted for him. Let him know we're here to help him make a difference and that his support of the Pickens Plan is our country’s way to create hundreds of thousands of new energy jobs and kick-start this ailing economy.

Click here to email President-elect Obama.

-Boone

November Community Events

2008-11-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a reminder of the two important community events this month:

November 13, 2008: The Great Southern California ShakeOut November 13, 2008 http://www.shakeout.org. Visit the website for more details about the largest earthquake preparedness event ever conducted. You can register to participate at the Shakeout.org website.

DHS Community Improvement Fair at Bubbling Wells Elementary School, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., November 22, 2008. Contact Chaka Osborne, Community Improvement Specialist, for more details. Her phone number is 951-955-5257 or cosborne ( at ) rctlma.org.

So! What's New Neighbors?

2008-10-23T16:02:00.001-07:00

If you're reading this, say, "Hi!"

If you have photos or information to contribute to the blog, send them to Webmaster(at)PaintbrushTrail.com.

Start thinking of ideas for planning our neighborhood block/street party. Who, what, when, where, and why. We should probably have a plan. Do you have any ideas on how to begin planning this event?

Riverside County Neighborhood Conference October 25, 2008

2008-10-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to attend the free Conference this weekend sponsored by Riverside County Code Enforcement. The jam-packed event features a number of free seminars and activitied for all family member. The date is Saturday, October 25, 2008.

Here's more details. To register online, CLICK HERE.

HOSTED BY RIVERSIDE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT
Saturday, October 25, 2008

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

UCR - Palm Desert Campus
75080 Frank Sinatra Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92211

VIEW FLYER HERE FOR MORE INFO MÁS INFORMACIÓN AQUÍ
Conference Agenda / Agenda de la Conferencia

Educational Breakout Sessions
Exhibitors from a variety of Organizations
Free Snacks and Lunch
Activities for Children (ages 6-12)!!
Learn from Inspirational Speakers
Excellent Networking Opportunity
Free Parking
Traductores en Español Disponibles
To register online, please CLICK HERE.

Have you cast your vote? Don't forget to vote by November 4th

2008-10-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Who will you vote for? Leave your anonymous comments on our blog. Will it be Obama & Biden? Or McCain & Palin?

Submit your anonymous comment today.......

If you haven't cast your vote yet, don't forget to vote on November 4, 2008. Make sure you are registered to vote, too. Visit Voter Registration to register before October 20, 2008!

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Minutes - Stray dogs discussed

2008-10-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

The main focus of today's Neighborhood Watch meeting was "stray dogs" what to do, who to call and how to help.

Officers Rosa and DuShane from the Riverside Animal Control Department delivered an informative presentation to a large group of community residents today. They stated the facts, brought hand out materials for our education, and gave us clear instructions what to do when we are faced with stray animals in the neighborhood.

There were many newcomers to the meeting. It's good to see and meet our neighbors. Today's meeting minutes are available by clicking the link below:

B-BAR-H Community Association Meeting Minutes October 18, 2008

There will be no meeting in November and December due to the holidays and people not being available. The next meeting will be scheduled for January. We'll post the date on the blog later this year.

Grafitti Busters of Riverside County Rock!

2008-10-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

The B-BAR-H Ranch had a few graffiti problems this past month. Some of the neighborhood watch members decided to have a chat with the parents of the neighborhood teens. Now, we think the problems will go away. We're hoping anyway. The graffiti was found on the sides of a few homes and on some of the area's signage.

Graffiti is annoying for many reasons. It devalues property and it creates a mess for someone to clean.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the Graffiti Busters of Riverside County. Their response time is awesome. We reported graffiti on a home and within a few days the Graffiti Busters had the entire wall painted like new. Most of the Graffiti Busters are volunteers who are committed to keeping the community clean!

Thank You Graffiti Busters of Riverside County from the B-Bar-H Ranch Community Association! For more information about Graffiti Busters visit their website.

Clean Up Day a HUGE success!

2008-10-11T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Clean Up Day sponsored by Riverside County Code Enforcement on October 11, 2008, at the Bubbling Wells Elementary School was a huge success. There were six large dumpsters filled to the brim with throw-away items.

Volunteers arrived in the masses to be a part of something greater than themselves and for the common good of us all! One of the area churches drove in with over 12 strong, eager helpers to assist people with the loading and unloading of trash. Neighbors from the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association helped, too.

Here's a list of volunteers from the B-BAR-H Neghborhood: Kathy and George Munoz, Curtis Schway, Andy Biswas, Doug Gordon, Ford Wathen, Anna Miller and Jim Fosbinder. Curtis and Doug volunteered to use their trucks and canvas the neighborhood for trash. They made several trips back and forth removing large items from the street sides in our area plus went into the fields to clear large items from the hiking trails.

Hats off to all the people for volunteering their Saturday morning in an effort to help create a clean community.

Chaka Osborne, Riverside County Community Improvement Specialist coordinated this event. Her Associates from Code Enforcement attended the event and included Officers Cindy Black, Tom McMullen and Tony Green. Everyone was in attendance to make the morning's event a huge success. Steve Hernandez, Legislative Assistant from the Board of Supervisors rolled up his sleeves and pitched in to help. It was definitely a true team effort.

People from all areas of the DHS Unicorporated areas filled their trucks, cars and trailers with unwanted items and arrived between 7 a.m. to Noon to this free clean up day. Driving home it was obvious the day was a success. The neighorhood looks better! Special thanks to Chaka, her team at Riverside County Code Enforcement and all the volunteers who made this event a HUGE success!

Deputy fatally shoots man in Desert Hot Springs

2008-10-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

1:35 PM Fri, Oct 10, 2008 Posted by: PE News

A man suspected of involvement in a disturbance outside a Desert Hot Springs church today was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy when he allegedly refused to comply with the deputy's commands at the end of a pursuit, authorities said. The deputy responded to a disturbing the peace call around 9:30 a.m. outside Grace Church on Bubbling Hills Road, near Dillon Road, according to sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez.

When the deputy arrived at the location, a person gave details on what had happened and provided a description of the suspect, who the deputy soon spotted less than a quarter mile away, the sergeant said. "The deputy tried to make contact with the suspect, and the man took off running," Gutierrez said. The suspect, with the deputy close behind, ran south until he reached the Save a Pet Adoption Center at 67600 18th Ave., according to Gutierrez.

He said the deputy shouted several commands to the suspect, but the man "did not comply" and the deputy fired his pistol at the man, fatally wounding him. Details on the nature of the disturbance that led to the shooting, and exactly what transpired at the end of the pursuit, were not immediately released, nor was the name of the suspect.

Community Clean Up - Desert Hot Springs Unicorporated Areas ONLY!

2008-10-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

Area Clean Up, Saturday, October 11, 2008 at Bubbling Wells Elementary School from 7 a.m. until Noon!

Clean it up! Haul it away! It's FREE to all unicorporated areas of Desert Hot Springs. This Saturday take advantage of an area clean up sponsored by Chaka Osborne, Riverside County Improvement.

CLICK HERE to read the English/Spanish flyer with details about Saturday's event. Help spread the word and get remind your neighbors of this event.

VFW Hall Location

2008-10-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

from Larry Hoffing, B-BAR-H Resident

Here's a link to the VFW Hall location from Manta.com. It gives the true and exact location of the VFW located at:

Veterans of Foreign Wars
1 B Bar Ranch,
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241

FREE Clean Up Day & Neighborhood Meeting Agenda

2008-10-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Please click a link to view the B-BAR-H Community Association Neighborhood News.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend both events.

Event #1 = October 11, 2008

FREE Neighborhood Clean Up Day at Bubbling Wells Elementary School

Event #2 = October 18, 2008
B-BAR-H Community Association Neighborhood Meeting at the VFW Hall

Special thanks to everyone who made donations for the Neighborhood Watch signs. President Curtis Schway and Treasurer Jim Fosbinder attached the signs at 12' heights on telephone poles throughout our community.

If you would like to make a donation to the Neighborhood Watch effort, please contact the Webmaster @ PaintbrushTrail.com.

Keating Economics: Making a Financial Crisis

2008-10-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

"Keating Economics: the Making of a Financial Crisis" is a documentary that shows why John McCain's failed philosophy and poor judgment are a recipe for deepening the economic crisis.

Watch the documentary and share it with your friends.

American Prayer

2008-10-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

American Prayer’ Music Video (directed by Dave Stewart and Seth Dalton) Features Powerful Line-Up of Artists Including Whoopi Goldberg, Forest Whitaker, Joss Stone, and Herbie Hancock one of the most prolific artists of the past two decades, Dave Stewart’s new music video “American Prayer” is an uplifting anthem and pays tribute to the millions of people who are supporting Barack Obama’s platform of change.

Directed by Stewart, the video brings together a diverse cast of personalities to reflect the broad reach of Obama supporters. The video features appearances by Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Forest Whitaker, Macy Gray, Herbie Hancock, Margaret Cho, Barry Manilow, Joss Stone, Colbie Caillat, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Baez as well as Iraq veterans, nurses, teachers, mortgage lenders, and many more Americans. Fans are also encouraged to submit their own versions of the song for a chance to be put into future versions of the video.

“Senator Obama has inspired millions to raise their voices in a call for change— the likes of which have not been seen in this country in forty years,” said Stewart. “History has taught us music has the power to be the heartbeat of social change. It is in that spirit that this American Prayer is dedicated to all the current young people, who, for the first time, are standing up for what they believe in.”

For the first time, Stewart’s new version of the song “American Prayer” is available on The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol. 1 which in stores and online now and as a single through iTunes, with a portion of the proceeds from Dave Stewart benefiting MoveOn.org.

“I found it more pertinent than ever to release this song at the moment when America dares to re-imagine itself and its place in the world.” said Stewart.

Stewart co-wrote “American Prayer” with U2’s Bono in 2002. Bono has since used the song on a number of occasions as part of his advocacy work with ONE, the campaign fighting AIDS and extreme poverty. He has not been involved in this project as ONE's work is strictly nonpartisan.

Stewart’s company Weapons of Mass Entertainment, along with Surfdog Records, recently released Dave Stewart Songbook, Vol. 1, an album consisting of new versions of his most celebrated material backed by a full orchestra. The CD features 21 songs written by Stewart that were made famous by the likes of Eurythmics, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger and many others.

Stewart is also set to embark on his North American Tour beginning in August 29th in Obama’s home state of Illinois. The Dave Stewart & His 30-Piece Rock Fabulous Orchestra tour will include songs from Stewart’s vast catalog of classic hits performed in one-of-a-kind arrangements.

Animal Control Presentation at October 18 Meeting

2008-10-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

Grrrrrrrrrr

We are pleased to announce Riverside County Department of Animal Services will be attending and presenting at our next Neighborhood Watch Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for October 18, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall. Should you have any questions, please contact us through the Webmaster @ PaintbrushTrail.com. Look forward to seeing you on October 18th!

Veterans of Foreign Wars
1 B Bar Ranch,
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241

FREE - FREE - FREE Come & Get it!

2008-09-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

FREE TO GOOD HOME
LIGHT WOOD - GOOD CONDITION

One Table & Four Chairs (shown)
(B-BAR-H Ranch, DHS Area)

A B-BAR-H resident has a table and chairs set looking for a good home! See photo above. If you need a table and matching chairs and have a way to pick it up, write to Webmaster @ PaintbrushTrail.com. You must include your name and phone number. We will forward your information to the people who have the free furniture, and they will call you to arrange a time when you can pick it up. No deliveries are possible.

Logo design for B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association

2008-09-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tell us what you think? Post your comments below! Is this a cool logo for the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association?

As an organization, we need to have professional letterhead for our external communications. B-BAR-H Ranch Resident, Douglas Gordon, aslo a graphic designer, was kind and created the logo.

We want your thoughts. Click the comments link below and send your feedback. Which one do you like best? Or, should we use them both!

Special thanks to Doug for taking the time to design our logo. Doug's website is located at D Design Douglas Gordon.

http://www.dddg.biz/home/index.html

Our next meeting is Saturday, 10.18.08, 10 a.m., VFW. We're expecting more people and new faces. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

B-BAR-H Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

2008-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

The B-BAR-H Neighborhood met on September 13th and September 27th to discuss a neighborhood watch program. The minutes to both meetings are available by clicking the links below:

September 13, 2008 - Meeting Minutes

September 27, 2008 - Meeting Minutes

For more information, details or if you'd like to attend our next meeting, please contact the Webmaster @ PaintbrushTrail.com.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 18, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall. Please plan to attend.

Bus Stop Fears Come to a Halt for Worried DHS Mother

2008-09-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

from Steve Grasha, B-Bar-H Resident

By Elyse Miller , News Channel 3

Parents will do anything they can to keep their children safe. A Desert Hot Springs mother spent weeks trying to put a stop to a dangerous walk her son makes every day: it's the walk to his bus stop. Desperate to protect her son, she turned to KESQ for help.

Just as the sun is rising and people are rushing to work, Brenda Soto's 10-year-old son Steven waits for the cars to clear to get to the school bus.

"I go to work worried every day if he made it to school ok. Did he cross ok? Did he get hit by a car?" says Soto.

The speed limit along Mountain View Road is 55 mph. Steven has to cross the road twice a day, before and after school. There's no crosswalk, stop sign or traffic light for at least a mile down the road.

"The sun is in the drivers' eyes or sometimes they're on the phone," says Soto. "People aren't looking for a 10-year-old kid at 6:45 in the morning."

Memorial crosses along the road remind Soto of what could and has happened. Last year, Carissa Nwene was hit and killed as she walked to Desert Hot Springs Middle School, which is the same school Steven goes to.

"I don't want it to be a little too late," says Soto.

Soto took Steven's safety into her own hands, making calls and asking for a bus stop on their side of the road or for a crosswalk.

"They told me eventually they'll get to it. What does it take for it to eventually come?"

Desperate for immediate help, she turned to KESQ. We made dozens of phone calls, and, finally, the Palm Springs Unified School District's Transportation Department took a look at the problem.

One week after our first call to the department, a new stop was added to the bus route. Now, Steven doesn't have to cross the road to get to school. Instead, the bus picks him up right in front of his house, driving away his mother's fear.

Soto now hopes the Transportation Department will install a sign to warn drivers that students are in the area.

Lost your rooftop solar panels? Check the Web

2008-09-25T14:49:00.001-07:00

Solar panels were stolen from the roof of Jim & Shayna Powell's home in Palm Desert, California.

(J. Emilio Flores for The New York Times)

from Steve Grasha, B-Bar-H Resident
by Kate Galbraith, International Herald Tribune

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, California: Solar power, with its promise of emissions-free renewable energy, boasts a growing number of fans. Some of them, it turns out, are thieves.

Just ask Glenda Hoffman, whose fury has not abated since 16 solar panels vanished from her roof in this sun-baked town in three separate burglaries in May, sometimes as she slept. She is ready if the criminals turn up again.

"I have a shotgun right next to the bed and a .22 under my pillow," Hoffman said.

Police departments in California - the biggest market for solar power, with more than 33,000 installations - are seeing a rash of such burglaries, though nobody compiles overall statistics.

Investigators do not believe the thieves are acting out of concern for their carbon footprints. Rather, the authorities assume that many panels make their way to unwitting homeowners, sometimes via the Internet.

Last November, someone tried to sell solar panels stolen from a toll road in Newport Beach for $100 each on eBay. Detectives from the local police department entered the bidding and won the panels, which were worth nearly $1,500 each, according to Sergeant Evan Sailor, a Newport Beach police spokesman.

When Nathan Tyrone Mitchell, a resident of Santa Monica, showed up to hand over the panels, the police greeted him with handcuffs.

Mitchell, who was charged with possession of stolen property, has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Charles Stoddard, said that his client had bought the panels from someone on Craigslist and then tried to resell them on eBay for a profit. "Our contention is that Mr. Mitchell is just an innocent purchaser who kind of got caught up in this thing," Stoddard said.

In Contra Costa County, detectives accustomed to handling thefts of copper began to notice solar panels disappearing in the past six months, according to Jimmy Lee, a spokesman for the county sheriff's office.

This summer, a police officer on a routine patrol became suspicious when he spotted a man trying to sell solar panels to a home builder who had advertised on Craigslist that he was seeking panels.

The officer confiscated the solar panels and, after detectives found that they matched panels stolen from a school, a California man was charged. Lee says that law enforcement agencies are investigating about a half-dozen other solar panel thefts in his area.

"We were surprised and kind of caught off guard" by the solar panel thefts, said Lee, who recommends that people engrave their driver's license numbers onto their panels for better identification.

For Tom McCalmont, president of Regrid Power, a solar installation business near San Jose, the problem hit home in late June. His own headquarters were struck by thieves, who took more than $30,000 worth of panels from the roof.

The panels were disassembled expertly, he said, leading him to suspect that someone in the solar industry had done it. He urges clients to install video cameras and alarms for their solar arrays, and likens his own revamped security system to Fort Knox.

"This is the crime of the future," McCalmont said.

After suffering a solar panel theft, some victims find unusual ways to protect their property. Hoffman, of Desert Hot Springs, could not sleep for several weeks during the string of thefts from her roof.

One night, she waited beside a nearby building and watched her house in an attempt to catch the thieves, causing a suspicious neighbor to call the police. She vows that if she ever catches the culprits, "they're not going to leave walking" - especially if she feels threatened.

So far, with the losses still modest, homeowners' insurance is processing the claims with little resistance. Hoffman's insurer, State Farm, is paying $95,000 to replace her entire system. She plans to install an alarm, and possibly a video camera.

Not far from Hoffman, in the town of Palm Desert, Jim and Shayna Powell were devastated after thieves took 19 of their solar panels in June, just when they needed air-conditioning the most, causing their electricity bill to shoot from $3 to $300.

"Of all the times of year to steal the panels," Jim Powell said in frustration.

Beyond California, solar power markets are comparatively small, so thefts are still rare - but they are spreading. In the past 18 months, Oregon's highway department has lost a few panels used to power portable traffic message boards.

In Minnesota, the Sauk River Watershed District has lost at least eight small panels, worth $250 each, in the past few years, according to Melissa Roelike, who coordinates the water-quality monitoring program there.

In response, the district has taken steps to protect the panels, including putting them in trees and atop poles. But thieves promptly stole one such panel.

"Obviously, hoisting them 20 feet in the air on a metal pipe does not work," Roelike said.

In Europe, where the solar industry is well established, thievery is entrenched, and measures to ward it off have become standard, including alarm systems and hard-to-unscrew panels.

But in the United States, installers are just coming to grips with the need for alarms, video cameras and indelible engraving of serial numbers. Some people prefer simpler solutions.

Ken Martin Jr. lost 58 panels, which will cost $75,000 to replace, this spring from the roof of a half-empty office building in Santa Rosa, California, that he owns.

He is considering slapping paint on some parts of his remaining panels - bright pink paint.

"At least if someone comes across them and they're painted, they'll know that's my color," he said.

The FreeCycle Network for Desert Hot Springs

2008-09-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

PaintbrushTrail.com received the email listed below. It's definitely worth sharing. If you've heard of The FreeCycle Network, and didn't know how to join, please read the email below and click on the link ...... it's for real, and it works!

From: Neighborhood Warrior

Subject: Change in the Neighborhood

Date: September 21, 2008

I applaud what you have done and what you are continuing to do. I think that the streetlight proposal is something that is essential. The introduction of "Green" systems is another viable option for all parties concerned. From the Supervisors standpoint, it may be an effective platform to ensure that hot button issues such as global warming are being made within their district (for voting purposes). To the homeowner it provides for the safety of their area. It may be of benefit to the homeowners to check on grant monies available from their respective Reprentatives or those occupying Congressional seats, during this time of election.

I have a suggestion for incorporation into your page:

http://www.freecycle.org/group/US/California/Desert%20Hot%20Springs

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,603 groups with 5,807,258 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Clutter causes nothing but grief to those who are buried by it and others that are suffering from the financial downturn could benefit from the receipt of something that they couldn't afford (dining tables, chairs, and couches). A turn around a neighborhood like yours can reveal old furniture, shelving, and other items that could be used in someone's home. It is never easy to throw something away, but it is quite another thing to give.

Thanks for your time!!

Nieghborhood Meeting Follow-Up

2008-09-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, the B-BAR-H Ranch residents met at the VFW Hall to discuss a Neighborhood Watch and plan for a second meeting. There were about 30 or more people in attendance. The meeting began sharply at 10:00 a.m., and some of the residents stayed and talked until almost 12:30 p.m.

The meeting agenda and speakers were as follows:

1. Curtis Schway, BAR-H Ranch resident, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to the meeting. Curtis briefly defined the meeting's intention to reduce problems in our neighborhood by coming together as a group of concerned property owners. He introduced his wife, Laura, who is available as our Spanish translator for our non-English speaking neighbors.

2. Pat Carney, BAR-H Ranch resident, summarized and reviewed upcoming neighborhood County-sponsored events. Here's a summary of the three main events:

•September 9–Earthquake Drill November 13
•October 11-Neighborhood Clean Up at Bubbling Wells Elementary School VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
•October 25–Neighborhood Conference in Palm Desert
See other blog posts on this page for more details pertaining to each event.

Pat introduced the Guest Speakers:
•Deputy Sheriff Lori Hardcastle, Sheriff’s Dept. (Neighborhood Watch)
•Office Mary Overholt, Code Enforcement Dept. (Area Updates)
•David W. Newton, President, I-10 Corridor Neighborhood Watch

3. Questions & Answers - Large group discussion. The group spent the rest of the meeting in a question and answer session.

We closed with the announcement of the next meeting date scheduled for September 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall.

If you have any questions or comments please submit them by clicking on the Comments Link below.