Second Annual Riverside County Neighborhood Conference

HOSTED BY RIVERSIDE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT
Saturday, October 17, 2009

8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Heritage High School
26000 Briggs Road
Romoland, CA 92585

For more details and to register online CLICK HERE.

What you can expect....

* Educational Breakout Sessions
* Learn from Inspirational Speakers
* Exhibitors from a Variety of Organizations
* Excellent Networking Opportunities
* Free Parking
* Free Snacks and Lunch
* Activities for Children (ages 6-12)

Click Here to register online!

DHS Community Improvement Fair - March 28, 2009

Click Here to Read the Online Brochure for this Event

from Chaka Ferrel, Community Improvement Specialist

Volunteers are needed for the DHS Community Improvement Fair - March 28, 2009 at Bubbling Wells Elementary School. We need adult and kid volunteers to assist. All vendors are welcome to attend also.

If you are interested in participating in this event, please see the details by clicking here. Everyone is welcome to attend!

FOOD - FUN - ACTIVITIES...... SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT!

B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Heroes!

Click Here to See the Complete Slide Show

B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood Pride!

About Clean Up Day
The B-BAR-H Neighborhood Clean Up Day held from 8-Noon on March 14, 2009, was a HUGE success thanks to B-BAR-H Residents and partners from Riverside County Code Enforcement -- Chaka Ferrel, Community Improvement Specialist, Officer Rich Arriola, Riverside County Code Enforcement, Grace Escobar, Media Relations and Barry Busch, Board Assistant to Supervisor Marion Ashley.

Riverside County Code Enforcement said this was the first event they've ever seen with such a large participative turn out by a small community. There were over a dozen volunteers wearing orange Riverside County T-shirts scouring the neighborhood and working at the dumpster site on March 14th. Please look at the Slide Show to see all our friends and neighbors!

We take pride in sharing this blog and thanking EVERYONE who participated in the March 14, 2009 community clean up event sponsored by Riverside County Code Enforcement. There are about 90-100 occupied homes in this area. According to the day's event, every home in the subdivision participated with the exception of about 5-6 homes. That's a record turn out for Clean Up Day!

The Volunteers
Special thanks are extended to the men and women who used their private vehicles, trucks and wagons to scour the neighborhood and carry trash to the dumpster. Without people like Dorlane Stanley, Curtis Schway, Bill Bentinck and Bob Alsup the day's event would've been less impressive. Curtis, Bill and Bob spent four hours driving through the subdivision loading their trucks to capacity with garbage and trash. Dorlane (DL) Stanley walked through fields and empty lots the entire morning hauling rubbish to the dumpster. Our hats go off to these residents.

Others who helped all morning include: Rose Alsup, Pat Carney, Larry Hoffing, Chayo Duarte, Jose German, Juan Villalobos, Joy Brown, Randy Blom, Gabriel Duran, D. Bonilla, Fred Phillipi, Jim Fosbinder, Anna Miller, Chris Georgesco, Walter Santos, John Annala, and others whose names we don't have at the time of this writing.

Children volunteered to go on foot throughout the neighborhood with bags and pickers. We are sorry we don't have their names to post here today, but they have become our blog's poster kids! See their pictures above and in the slide show. The children came back to the dumpster with full garbage bags continuously throughout the morning. Their photo is our website's icon! Thank you for showing pride in your neighborhood. You are wonderful children with a very good Mom. Thanks for encouraging your children to take pride in their neighborhood!

Take a few minutes and drive through the neighborhood. Just about every home and yard is clean with the exception of a few places. Actually, we ran out of time and dumpster room. We filled two full dumpsters. The dumpsters were full by 11:45 a.m., and we actually had to turn away a few last truck loads. We encourage people to arrive earlier next time to make sure we get everything dumped.

About the Arch
The day's event covered a dual purpose. During the clean up, we discussed and planned a "Save the Arch" event. All sorts of suggestions were discussed: make the Arch area into a park, repair the broken logs, paint it, fill the area with rocks, fundraising event, purchase the land, etc. The B-Bar-H Ranch Arch was built in 1929, and the residents want to keep it intact. They are willing to donate time and money to preserve the Arch. Help preserve the Arch by joining the effort. Contact Webmaster(at)Paintbrushtrail.com.

Early Saturday morning, March 21, 2009, everyone is going to meet at the Arch once again to clean up the Arch area, repair the broken log and discuss future plans. Pat Carney, El Serape Road, arranged to have professional assistance to help with the log repair. Chayo Duarte, El Serape Road, is arranging to bring a dump truck of large boulders and rocks to the Arch to create a barricade and protect the Arch from possible vehicle accidents. We almost lost the Arch a few years ago due to a DWI accident.

We're asking neighbors to make a donation to help preserve the Arch. The log repair is going to cost $200. We will all donate what we can to cover this cost. Please arrange your schedule to stop by the Arch on Saturday morning, March 21, 2009 to share ideas and make a donation. The B-BAR-H Ranch Arch is the entrance to our neighborhood and it's something we have all grown to love. Contact Webmaster(at)Paintbrushtrail.com.

View the Slide Show to see the B-BAR-H Neighborhood Clean Up Day
March 14, 2009

Clean Up Day Planning Meeting a Success!

Meeting:
B-BAR-H Neighborhood Association, VFW, 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Minutes:
March 4, 2009

Many new people came to the meeting on March 4th. It was good to see and meet new neighbors. The purpose of the meeting was to plan the March 4th Clean Up Day sponsored by Riverside County Code Enforcement.

Discussion Topics:

1. March 14th Clean Up Day. Everyone will meet at the B-BAR-H Ranch Arch on Bubbling Wells and El Serape Roads at 8 a.m. We will discuss and assign specific duties at that time.
   
2. Repairing the Arch. It was suggested we finish fixing the Arch and adding some solar lights to preserve the hisorical landmark built in 1929. We will discuss this more on the 14th and make plans to complete this project to the best of our ability. We already looked into preserving the Arch as a historical landmark. We spoke to the Historical Society, City Planners, and the State of California. The piece of land is privately owned.
   
3. Neighborhood problems. Many people are upset about some of the homes not being kept up properly or being overrun by vehicles. Code Enforcement visits our neighborhood frequently and will address these items.
   
4. Vandalism. Some people are seeing strangers in the area. We discussed a recent break in. If anyone sees suspicious things, they need to call the Sheriff's Dept. We are not to take anything into our own hands. Be safe. Call the Sheriff.

The meeting discussion was on task and was over by 7:00 p.m. We'll see everyone at the Arch on March 14th at 8:00 a.m. Special thanks to everyone who wants to preserve the integrity of our neighborhood!

Clean Up Day Saturday March 14, 2009

B-BAR-H Community Association News
Please RSVP -- Thank You!
----------------------------------------------------------

Last year our small area participated in the Riverside County Code Enforcement's Clean Up Day at Bubbling Wells Elementary School, and it was a huge success for us all. Our neighbors pitched in and helped to remove trash along roadsides and houses. The team effort really made a difference in our neighborhood.

For this year, we have Very Good News! We get our own dumpster!

We met with Code Enforcement, and here's the details for Saturday, March 14, 2009:

1. We will have one large dumpster located under the Arch on Bubbling Wells from 8 - Noon
2. We also get 6 people to walk the area and pick trash and litter
   We get trash bags, trash pickers, gloves, T-shirts, a table, tools, etc. on loan from Code Enforcement
3. The B-BAR-H Community Association has $20 in the Treasury, so we are getting Orange Juice and DoNuts for the event. Plus, if anyone wants to donate food, please bring it to the Arch that morning.

WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION to ensure this event is meaningful and worthy.

Here's what you can do:

1. RSVP to confirm you have trash items to bring to the dumpster.
2. If you have a truck and can help bring items to the dumpster from the roadsides within our neighborhood, please confirm.
3. Volunteer to help supervise at the event.
4. Confirm if you want to bring food or donuts.
5. Talk with your neighbors about the event, and with those who don't use email.
6. Invite neighbors to the March 14th event - 8 a.m. til Noon.
7. Volunteer to help distribute paper invitations to our neighbors, please reply.

Last year Doug, Ford, Andy, Curtis, Jim, Kathy, George and many others created a successful team.

Let's do it again on March 14th! Any questions? Please write to Webmaster(at)PaintbrushTrail.com.

Please "Think Twice" before saying, "No." The coordination of a clean up event takes time, money and effort. If we do not receive neighborhood participation for the March 14th event, it will be the last clean up event the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association sponsors.

March 14th Neighborhood Clean Up Day

Volunteers at the Octbr 11, 2008 Riverside County Code Enforcement Clean Up Day held at Bubbling Wells Elementary School

* * *

Mark your calendar for March 14, 2009. We're having a clean up day in our area coordinated in partnership with Riverside County Code Enforcement Community Improvement Specialist, Chaka Ferrel.

Plans are for us to have one dumpster located near our area, probably under the B-BAR-H Ranch Arch shown above on the corner of Bubbling Wells and El Serape Roads. Specific details will be posted here after a meeting with Code Enforcement next Friday. The event will be held from 8:00 a.m. until Noon on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Our neighborhood actively participated in last year's event and brought truck loads of trash to the dumpsters. It truly made a difference in the neighborhood to see garbage and trash removed from yards and from alongside houses. This year's event will give everyone an opportunity to do the same by cleaning out old items too bulky for pick up by our weekly trash removal service.

This year, our neighborhood will get one dumpster placed nearby so we can dispose of unwanted items without driving to the school. However, the March 14th main event will be held at Bubbling Wells Elementary School just like last year's event.

If you have items not accepted in a dumpster, like tires, chemicals, paints, etc. contact County Waste Management for a list of their clean up events. They are held almost every weekend. The website is www.rivcowm.org and the schdedule can be found there for the disposal of tires, paints, and chemicals, etc.

Chaka Ferrel, Riverside County Community Improvement Specialist is sponsoring this event and will be available at Bubbling Wells Elementary School to answer your questions.

We anticipate this year's event to be as successful as last year's, and we'll keep you updated with news about the event. If you have a question, want to volunteer at the event, or suggestions for Code Enforcement, please send an email to Webmaster(at)IGMproducts.com.

Desert Hot Springs Code Enforcement Cases & Foreclosure Stats

Mountain views surround Desert Hot Springs, California

by Anna Miller, Secretary
B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood Association

Desert Hot Springs, California is probably one of the best kept secrets in the State. It's a quiet city nestled between Palm Springs and Yucca Valley. It has a beautiful landscape with many new homes for sale. The cost of living in Desert Hot Springs isn't quite as high as its neighboring Desert Cities, and it has all the conveniences with short travel times to many other areas.

B-BAR-H Ranch Arch constructed in the 1920's is in need of repair

Our Community, the B-BAR-H Ranch neighborhood, is located in Riverside County between Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs. We're about a 10 minute drive to either city. Palm Springs is well-known and developed. Desert Hot Springs is smaller, mostly residential with a few shopping centers and many, small, well-known spa resorts. It's the perfect, quiet area to live and raise a family. Dining out is less expensive than other Desert Cities, and there are restaurants to please all sorts of traditional Thai, Italian, Mexican and American diners. The service is great and the people are friendly.

The B-BAR-H Ranch organized a neighborhood community watch program in 2008. Under the direction of a group of neighbors, the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association holds meetings and helps organize neighborhood functions to maintain the property value of the new homes located in the B-BAR-H Ranch neighborhood.

View from Pierson Blvd in Desert Hot Springs, California

An important function held throughout the year is a neighborhood clean up day sponsored by Chaka Ferrel, Community Improvement Specialist, Riverside County Code Enforcement Department. The B-BAR-H Ranch works in partnership with Code Enforcement to obtain annual clean up goals. Chaka, and fellow associate, Regina Keyes, Code Enforcement Officer, attended and presented at the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association meeting held on January 17, 2009.

Courtesy of City-Data.com

As follow up to our in depth discussion with Code Enforcement on January 17th, Chaka responded to our request with details about our area. According to Chaka Ferrel, as of November 2008 statistics, the Desert Hot Springs area has about 253 properties in foreclosure, and 39% of the 253 foreclosed homes have open, active Code Enforcement cases. There are about 98 Code Enforcement cases as summarized below:

• 20 – Accumulated Rubbish (20.4 %)
• 7 – Construction without Permit (7 %)
• 60 – Substandard Structures / Dwellings (61.2 %)
• 2 – Vehicle Abatement (2.4 %)
• 9 – Zone Violations (9 %)

Our goal is to continue to work in partnership with Riverside County Code Enforcement to keep the B-BAR-H Neighborhood clear of violations. Our next neighborhood clean up day is being planned for Spring 2009. The date, location and activities will be defined and posted here. We'll also send out an email and notify the neighborhood by printed newsletter. The tasks and activities sponsored by the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association are accomplished by a team of concerned neighbors. We work together to uphold the quality of our neighborhood.

For more information, to Subscribe to our emails, to submit an article for this blog, or to become a part of the B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association, please send your email address to Webmaster(at)PaintbrushTrail.com.