Showing posts with label Wildomar Library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wildomar Library. Show all posts

Thursday, March 12, 2020

• City Council Meeting March 2020

Brief recap of a brief city council meeting.
Presentations 
Eagle Scout Jayden Coan
L to R: Amanda Fisher from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez's office, Mayor Pro-Tem Bridgette Moore, Mayor Dustin Nigg, Jayden Coan, Ben Benoit, Joseph Morabito and Marsha Swanson.
Acknowledgement of Doug Ames' contributions to Wildomar over the years. (He's hightailing out of California to Nevada where the average July temp is 107°) Good luck and remember to bathe in sunblock from May to November. ☺
Doug Ames is flanked by the city council.

Elsinore High School gave an update (11:20 mark of the video below) as well as Reality Rally. 

It looks like Wildomar won't be fielding a team this year (other obligations that day) and with the coronavirus, maybe the entire event will be scrapped in light of the overreaction and toilet paper hoarding that's gripped the nation. 
A photo from last year's event. Wildomar's team consisted of Cameron Luna, Daniel Torres, Joseph Morabito and Big Brother "star" in the red shirt. (Sorry, I forgot her name over the last year... and I'm sure she forgot ours too.)

Department Reports 
Librarian Sandra Brautigam gave an update (27:30 of the video). Be sure to check out the library and all they have to offer the residents. It's a great resource that often goes underutilized.

Stats from 4th Quarter 2019
For the Fire Report and Economic Development Update please watch the video at the bottom of this blog, starting at the 36:30 mark of the video.

1.16 Establishing Fines for Certain Parking Violations
I know that for many years there was scant enforcement when it came to parking abuses, but those days are over, and if you want to test it, just make sure your wallet is ready for the punch in the mouth it's about to get.
I bet there will be more than one person that ends up on the "Hattrick of Ignominy" list.
3.1 Hazardous Vegetation/Weed Abatement
The City of Wildomar’s Hazardous Vegetation Abatement program is designed to reduce fire hazards on private properties during the spring and early summer months. This program seeks to remove weeds, rubbish, litter or other flammable material from private properties where such flammable material endangers the public safety by creating a public nuisance and a fire hazard. 

3.2 Community Volunteer Roadside Cleanup Program
The program is still unfolding, but the basics at this point include that the city will provide bags to groups or individuals (at either the cemetery, city hall, or city events) to put trash in. 

The idea is that you can leave the bright orange bags along the roadside, and staff will pick them up during the week.

I'm including the Mayor's comments on this, because, well, they make good horse sense... if you don't litter, there wouldn't be litter to pick up... or something like that. (watch the video for his actual quote)

If you're part of a community minded organization, contact the city to see how your group can participate.
3.6 Wildomar Mobility Plan
Take a look at the video for the details of the Mobility Plan, also known as Go Active Wildomar. 
The meeting was adjourned in the memory of Richard Heil.
Richard and Sharon Heil.

If you want to stay up on things in Wildomar, be sure to be subscribed to the city's email blasts. 
Use this link to sign up.

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“Inside us all faintly echoes the softest notes of a forgotten melody. Where did we once hear it, and when did we say it? Sometimes, in the absolute loneliness of the darkest night there is a whisper. Is it a vagrant breeze or someone calling out from the bottomless well of the past, and saying 'Remember me? Once I was you.”
– EG Marshall (CBSRMT)


Inside Wildomar Rap is the faint little echo of a forgotten guitar riff that is trying to remind me that I neglected to take the garbage cans to the street again.


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Monday, October 28, 2019

• Library: Pumpkin Painting Contest

If you're a regular at the Wildomar Library you already know about their extensive activities calendar, if you didn't even know there was a library in Wildomar, then your kids surely missed the chance to paint a pumpkin this afternoon.

There were three divisions 
Basically it was grouped by preschool, elementary school and middle school. 

I had the honor of being one of the judges, along with Lynne Mayes and Sandra Brautigam, library manager.

It wasn't easy choosing, since all of them would make a parent proud (like how I worded that? ☺). There was also a "staff's choice award" chosen by longtime library helper Rafael Hermosillo.
Three of the four winners posed for a group photo... with a little help from dad. ☺

Rafael Hermosillo speaking to all the artists.
The artists as they were being polled about next year's Halloween event.
I heard that this artist has won, with different blind judges, four years in a row.
This pumpkin was painted to be a hedgehog (not Sonic, mind you) so it was purposefully on its side. 
This blue pumpkin was chosen to receive the staff's choice award.
Jack Skellington was also a favorite.
Check out the facebook pages of the library and the Friends of the Wildomar Library to see what other events they have planned for the community.



If you're one of those NEVER FACEBOOK types, then you can use the phone or send a message to get info.
(951) 471-3855
Send Message From This Link

34303 Mission Trail, Wildomar, CA 92595

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The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.
– Flannery O'Connor

What a coincidence, Wildomar Rap doesn't change according to your ability to stomach it either.

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Monday, June 11, 2018

• Fun Afternoon, Kid-Style, in Wildomar

Local kids enjoy magic show/balloon show, at the Wildomar Library.

The Friends of the Library sponsored a terrific show for Wildomar's youngins; in addition to prizes for the Summer reading program. If you're interested in more library activities, or the mission of the Friends of the Library, follow this link. 
The show started at 12:15, but the library doesn't open until noon on Mondays so a crowd began to gather in anticipation of the show.
It was a full house. At last count, there were 80 kids that attended, but I saw at least half a dozen more trickle in after that estimate was made.
Buster Balloon looking for a volunteer.
His show was very entertaining, and at the same time he would draw attention to the library, to the value of books and to the joys of reading.
This volunteer helped with the disappearing blue egg. Quite a trick when your volunteer pulls an egg out of the pouch when the magician is on the other side of the room. You should have seen it. Amazing.
This part of the show required a volunteer princess to be part of a live action telling of The Princess and the Frog. You see where Princess Serenity was adorned with a balloon tiara.
This volunteer was a pirate, and is seen wearing his pirate hat and holding his pirate ship.
Buster Balloon and his pal Bongo entertained the kids with the world's oldest Knock, Knock joke... with the dreaded "orange you glad I didn't say banana" punchline. ☺
The grand finale of Buster Balloon's act was recreating a monster from one of the Goosebumps books. He had some volunteers go through an assortment of book covers he had in a tin, then choose one at "random" which happened to be The Blob That Ate Everyone.

He warned the kids that it was too scary to do, because, well... the blob ended up eating everyone, but the kids hooted and hollered until he relented and agreed to make this monster.

He got out what looked like a hot water bottle, and an industrial sized blower to pump this monster to life. The following snapshots tell the story.
The Blob continues to grow as the kids shout "bigger".
Buster is having to deal with a very large blob.
The Blob is consuming Buster Balloon little by little.
It appears that Buster is done for.
Buster is trying to escape the Blob that ate everyone.
Thankfully Buster was able to bust his way out of that blob.
This was a great diversion, and being that the library is centrally located, it's short drive no matter where you live in town. 

In addition to their reading programs, there are other activities and clubs there too... not to mention — BOOKS!
Enlarge the image if it's difficult to read.
The library's next show will be The California Joe Show,
June 27th at 2pm. It's billed as a "fun filled magic show".

Get there early to ensure your child gets a good seat. There are chairs for the adults, but I think you'll be able to see better if you stand.
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Growing up, I had a magic kit to learn tricks and learn card tricks. I used to watch whatever magic special was on as a kid. It's not that I lost interest, but to be a magician, it's really hard work. Learning lines is hard enough; learning sleight of hand, that's real practice.
– Steve Buscemi

Wildomar Rap's greatest trick is getting people to continue to read it. Voilà! You're here... it worked again.☺

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Saturday, June 2, 2018

• New Little Free Library in Windsong Valley

Many thanks to Natalia Rupp and her family for choosing to take on a project that will benefit the whole community. To officially kick that off, she had a ribbon cutting that was pretty well attended.
Natalia Rupp, holding her son, speaking to crowd... that extended half way into the street, before cutting the ribbon.
Natalia is a longtime Wildomar and Windsong Valley resident. She grew up in the area, going to the local schools along the way.
A table full of books
I asked Natalia what motivated her to take on this project. "Having access to books is the most important thing for students, [and] without any strings attached." 

She figured this was the best way to get books directly into the hands of those that need them, without having the red tape of an organization to back it on a larger scale. 

This effort has been done completely by donations, and she has 8 full boxes of books on hand to keep the Little Free Library stocked for weeks to come.
A look at the Free Little Library when there isn't a crowd around it. ☺
It's located at 35573 Wanki Ave.
The Little Free Library started out as a doghouse. Natalia's dad ordered it online (who happens to live next door) and her uncle, a woodworker from Norco, built the doors.
The concept of a Little Free Library is that you can take a book and leave a book, though you aren't expected to do both on the same visit. 

The books aren't only aimed at children, there are just as many that would appeal to more mature readers too.

Link to website with more details about the concept, and if you'd like to install one yourself.
This young man was showing off his new book.
There were several raffles (everyone was given a free ticket) that included books, gift certificates to local establishments, and other fun stuff, it was quite a turn out.

From left to right: Wildomar Queen Jessie Taylor, Natalia Rupp, two young girls that I didn't get their names, Wildomar Librarian Melina Velazquez, City Councilmember Bridgette Moore.
Attendees included many Windsong Valley neighbors, city council member Bridgette Moore, Wildomar librarian Melina Velazquez, Friends of the Library, Michelle and Margaret of Love on a Leash K-9 Comfort and Wildomar Queen Jessie Taylor.
Local kids were already exploring the Little Free Library's contents. 
I asked Wildomar Librarian Melina Velazquez for her thoughts, "I'm happy to be here and happy to see Little Libraries popping up in Wildomar; it's an excellent way to promote literacy in our community." 

She was telling me about the library's Summer program which includes four performances in the coming months.
•  Monday, June 11th at 12:15pm: The Buster Balloon Magic Show 
•  Wednesday, June 27th at 2pm: California Joe Show.
•  Wednesday, July 11th at 1:30pm: Pacific Animal Productions
•  Wednesday, July 18th at 2:00pm: Christopher T. Magician Magic Show

They also have movie days, an arts/crafts day called Dragon Eye for kids 12 to 17, a chess club for all ages, a book club and a lot of other great activities. Be sure to contact the library, or the Friends of the Library, for more information.


(951) 471-3855
Click here to visit the website
Also in attendance were therapy dogs Gracie Sue and Winston, they are part of Love on a Leash and help kids read. They'll be at the Wildomar library June 13th, 27th and July 8th at 4pm. Come on down and practice reading to one of them.
Gracie Sue is the taller one, and Winston is the cuter one... ☺
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A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.
– C.S. Lewis

Wildomar Rap is isn't known for it's children's stories, but kids of all ages have loved the cartoons that appear here from time to time.

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Saturday, April 22, 2017

• New Bus Shelter

Wildomar recently got two additional bus shelters in town. 

One in front of the library, and the other in front of Falcon Square (which is where Weichert Realtors, and Boost Mobile is).

To mark the occasion, there was a ribbon cutting at the library. A few words were spoken by 2017 RTA Chair Linda Krupa, then Wildomar's own Bridgette Moore, and followed up by RTA CEO Larry Rubio.
It was a little dicey trying to get this shot, as car were speeding by. This was taken from across the street by Grace Morabito and Christopher Yepez. Councilmember Bridgette Moore is wielding the scissors, and in the crowd is also councilmember Marsha Swanson, RTA Chair Linda Krupa, Librarian Melina Velasquez, EVMWD board member George Cambero and few more dignitaries.

That boosts the total up to five bus shelters in town. The rest of the bus stops in the area are lucky to have a bench. (Though more benches have been added recently.)

In order to get such a shelter, the area first must meet all the requirements set out by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). 

I asked RTA CEO Larry Rubio how much it cost to put in such a shelter, and he told me that without adding in improvements (see photo below) they run about $10,000 each.

Awhile back, I heard one estimate at a T-NOW meeting, that after going through a typical lengthy permitting process, the costs can approach $50,000 if the site wasn't already in compliance. Gotta love our bureaucracy. 
To accommodate the fencing and the shelter, the slab had to be extended by several feet.
That contributes to the costs going beyond the entry level figure of $10K.


These shelters are solar powered, and have lights that go on after dark. The lights, which aren't obtrusively bright, stay on during the entire night.
My guess is that less than 3% of all Wildotuckians could tell you where Falcon Square is by name.


I asked Wildomar city council member Bridgette Moore, who also represents the City of Wildomar on the RTA Board of Directors for her thoughts.

“RTA is making good on its commitment to continually improve passenger amenities,” She further added, “This new shelter not only improves the streetscape, but also enhances our customers’ overall travel experience.”

We now have 5 upgraded bus shelters in Wildomar.
The four shelters are located at:
• Palomar & Central
• Wildomar Community Library
• Wildomar Assisted Living Senior Center
• Inland Valley Hospital
• Clinton Keith and George (near Oak Springs Ranch Apartments)

A representative of Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez's office stopped by with a certificate for the occasion.
Hemet mayor Linda Krupa, Wildomar council member Bridgette Moore
and Samantha Stilwell of Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez's office.

Any opinions on where the next such shelter should be located? Suggestions have included: in front of the Elks Lodge; in front of Circle K at the corner of Bundy Canyon and Mission Trail; and near the Rite Aid at the corner of Palomar and Clinton Keith.

As aside, the funding for these bus shelters came from RTA. No Wildomar dollars were used to get them here. 
What local event is complete without some of GoNutz Donuts specialized creations?

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Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.

— William Butler Yates, 1865-1939

Wildomar Rap tip of the day: Wait till the iron is hot to flatten those wrinkles. Also, striking the iron isn't as effective as plugging it in.