Six things for a rainy Saturday... no picture, but I stopped by The Finch restaurant, and they are going to be opened any day now.
1
Let's start with a visit to Wildomar Marketplace. The event was at Marna O'Brien park and they got a couple of hours in before the weather interfered.
The first hour of the event.
After all their efforts to have this event happen, and stay within the city codes, it ended up raining. I arrived a little before 10am and it was still dry. There were fewer vendors than promised because of the thunder showers the night before.
Even the threat of rain couldn't deter these shoppers.☺
A few sparse raindrops started to fall here and there but didn't amount to much... yet it didn't let up, and eventually everything was wet.
At this point, the rain was getting to be more than could be tolerated.
Their last event date had to be cancelled due to the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. The next scheduled date for Wildomar Marketplace will be in December and held at the Elks Lodge.
2
Heavy equipment activity on the parcel east of Monte Vista and South of Bundy Canyon got many of the local facebook pages into gear this week... mostly with inaccurate info.
Looking east from Monte Vista.
To combat the various guesses about the activity, City Councilmember Bridgette Moore went live on facebook with an update letting people know that the activity was being done by Riverside County Flood Control in preparation for rain in the burn areas of Lake Elsinore.
Live on the scene on October 7th giving details of the heavy equipment activity.
Use this link to see the update. (This isn't on an official city page, so if you're not connected with her on facebook, it may not be visible.) Though the official city facebook page is still in the tinkering stage, you can always go to it and like/follow it now. That way, when it launches, you'll already be there. Use this link Wildomar City facebook page
3
New Bus Shelter at the corner of Central and Palomar. The project, including the new curb and gutter, was paid for by RTA.
Now passengers will have a safe place to wait for the bus.
During early construction on September 26th.
As it looked on September 28th.
4
It's definitely political sign season.
Traveling east on Central before it changes to Baxter.
I saw my first series of signs supporting Wildomar's Measure AA today. In the lower right hand corner it reveals that the signs were paid for by MWCOC (Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce). I didn't drive through the whole city, but I saw at least a dozen signs on the Central/Baxter/Monte Vista/Bundy Canyon/Mission Trail/Palomar loop. Someone was a busy bee last night. On November 6th, the voters will decide whether or not to charge an additional penny per dollar sales tax increase in town.
In the next photo you can see a sign that is against Measure AA. It's almost a "where's Waldo" moment trying to find it. My prediction is that the final vote will be 65% to 35% in favor.
The northeast corner of Gruwell and Palomar. Though it may go nowhere, if elected Joseph Morabito has pledged to bring up a future agenda item of temporary sign regulations. This kind of visual noise has to be controllable. I don't see it in other areas I travel in.
At least the City Council candidates only have one banner each in the above photo. In the race to plaster every last square inch with junky signs, McBride is the easy winner, with Bianco coming in a not too distant second. Though George Cambero has earned honorable mention with a flurry of additional signs over the last couple of weeks. (I love ya George, but even you hate all those signs)☺ I have it on good authority that candidate Joseph Morabito has promised to have his signs down BEFORE the end of election day. The rules allow up to ten days after to remove them, but why even wait that long? If you need to campaign after 3pm on election day, you might have made a miscalculation or two along the way.
5
A "The SWAG" Fundraiser will be at The Corporate Room (link to map). The cost is $35 and you're supposed to show up in a costume. If you don't have a costume, and you're coming as a couple, dress as your partner and see if that'll work. ☺
I'm putting the final touches on a blog about The SWAG (Social Worker Action Group). Until it gets uploaded (hopefully tomorrow), know that they are a nonprofit that is working with the City of Wildomar to address the issues of homelessness in town.
6
Now for a just because it's funny photo.
Located at the Baxter-Central curve.
If you're in the market for a rain tested washer and dryer, it'll only set you back a C-Note. They've been on display at this site for the better part of a week. Maybe the salesman hasn't been near the phone or something, because I can't imagine how this steal of a deal has been overlooked by so many passersby at this killer location.
• • •
In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow You can't get much simpler than Wildomar Rap.
This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.
If you're signed up for city emails, and you read them, then you've already read about the road improvement projects going on.
Below is the direct wording from the email with pics I took today.
The City of Wildomar is under contract with Hardy & Harper, Inc. to construct CIP0048 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Improvement Project. The work was scheduled to begin on June 18, 2018, and construction is anticipated to be completed by July 20, 2018. • Clinton Keith Rd – Completed
The ragged road in front of The Barn, near the corner of Clinton Keith and Palomar heading westbound got a fresh pave job. Photo by Wildomar Rap
• Grand Ave – Completed
It starts at the intersection of McVicar and Central and continues south in large swaths. Photo by Wildomar Rap
No more broken asphalt in this area. Photo by Wildomar Rap
This area remains as it was. Photo by Wildomar Rap
• Inland Valley Rd – Clinton Keith Rd to Prielipp Rd (Night work June 26-June 28, 2018 7PM – 5AM)
All the bad areas of Inland Valley Road were fixed with this repaving project. Photo by Wildomar Rap
• Bundy Canyon Rd – Oak Circle Rd to The Farm Rd (Day Time July 2- July 3, 2018 8:30AM to 3:30PM). There is no road closure proposed with the project. The project will close one lane at a time and use a flagging operation to direct traffic through the construction zone. The project construction is funded by SB1 – The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (new gas tax). Construction of this nature creates a hazardous environment for those construction personnel and for persons not related to the construction. Please use extreme caution when traveling on the various streets during construction. We place a high priority on public safety and ask your help and cooperation with these issues. If you have any questions or concerns you may contact Hardy & Harper, Inc at (714) 444-1851 or the City of Wildomar at (951) 677-7751. WR NOTE: There was no mention of when the lines would be repainted on either Clinton Keith or Grand Ave.
Wildomar Rap opinion time: The above is good, solid communication from the city. Now let's up the game and have it archived in the form of a city newsletter/blog (with in house photos too). And instead of sending out the emails when the work is done on three of the four items (it was dated yesterday), how about before the first paving job starts?
• •• •• •• •
Does $67,648.34 of grant money (one time) really have an "approximate value" of $200K per month?
Something that flew under my radar came from the May city council agenda, on the consent calendar (which is the place that agenda items go that are not intended to get council or public comment) was the rebranding of Baxter Road. I emailed all five council members about this. Just looking for some basic info as to when the public was going to start to see some movement on the transition. Hi [insert council member name here],
I didn't see the consent calendar item in May about the funding for sign changes regarding Wildomar Trail and branding of the water tower. I've always liked the idea and am glad to see it happening. I want to write a blog about it, sharing what's coming, and if you can add any details (when it's supposed to happen) that would be helpful.
Thanks
Joseph
Kudos to Councilmember Tim Walker for being the first to respond, and then followed up the next day too. "Yes we’ve been working on that for a while. Wrcog is helping cities with branding and they kick in some funding for these types of projects. I can’t remember which meeting it was but we have passed all this. That’s also who paid for the new City sings [sic] on the building." I asked if he had an idea when it would begin and he replied, "We are still waiting on Caltrans they have to do their share first. It’s going to [be] some time for them." Bridgette Moore also responded. She reminded me that the info was on page 512 of the agenda packet, and that the "project must be completed by November 15, 2018"
From west to east, then south the road names will be going from Central, Baxter, Porras, George and Shopping Center to Wildomar Trail.
The roadway name change first was brought up by Mayor Ben Benoit at the May 13, 2015 city council meeting, he was mayor that year too. (video at the bottom of the blog)
I'm all for the idea of having one of our off ramps, and key thoroughfares, named after the city. The part that gets lost on me is the need to attach a questionable value to the name change; a value that can't be redeemed at any bank. Back in 2015 I had a public comment about this, I suggested that if the "approximate value" of such rebranding really was going to be $100K per month, then we should sell the naming rights to Coca-Cola and make $1.2M per year. It was funny to watch the head shaking at my comment by staff (it's subtle but it's there), suggesting that I wasn't quoting their own agenda packet verbatim.
Now, the May 2018 agenda claims that wrapping the water tower is also valued at $100K per month. Preposterous!
Still, you can clearly read the claimed value of the tower wrapping... I think this project is a good idea, especially since the costs are being covered by another agency. It just doesn't need eyebrow raising claims attached to it in the process.
If those numbers are supposed to be real, how in the world is it that a struggling city like Wildomar hasn't looked into getting some of that back by way of selling the naming rights? Because that suggestion is equally as preposterous... offsetting penalties, play goes over.
Or just continue to repeat the same rhetoric, you choose.
Once we get past the silliness of the claimed value of rebranding, it's a good idea.
Location of the water tower in question, decked out in a Wildomar Rap wrap. I don't get how in the same paragraph the claim of $5000 a month and $100,000 a month are made. Must be new math.
This should have been trumpeted in the lead up to the May 2018 city council meeting. This is a win for the city. Why was this put on the consent calendar where the likelihood was that it would get no recognition? Which is what happened. This is another reason why I'm running for city council. Things like this need to be part of the full agenda and discussed in public. Worst case scenario, the city council meeting lasts another 9 to 14 minutes. Why should it be blogger guy that is getting this info to the residents of Wildomar, weeks after the fact, instead of the city itself?
Below is the video of the May 2015 agenda item. It's like a little time capsule that takes you back to the old council chambers. Understand that much of that item is NOT part of the rebranding. Item 3.3 from that meeting was also dealing with updating street signs too, which isn't happening now.
• •• •• •• •
Easy Pickin's?
It was disclosed to me that The Corporate Room was sent a letter by the city saying they aren't allowed to have the marketplace event anymore.
Credit does go to Councilmember Bridgette Moore for at least trying to intercede when at the last city council meeting she asked for an ordinance that would allow for such events during the Future Agenda items. I guess you got your answer...
This probably isn't a fair juxtaposition, but what everyday people in town see is that there is time to chase away a quality event in its nascency, while the homeless encampments remain for another day. "Ouch, that's not fair," some of you are saying. Ok, you got me, I have to agree that comparing the ordinances for events like Wildomar Marketplace to ordinances dealing with homeless encampments is like comparing hamburgers to rollie pollie bugs (yes, I just said "rollie pollie"). Homeless issues are bigger than cities and regions, and seem to have no real workable answers with the way the state (and the courts) are dictating things be done (or not be done, as the case may be). But comparing the ordinances that would allow something like the Wildomar Marketplace with ordinances banning trucks on Palomar, that are circumventing the codes day after day, and year after year... is definitely a Granny Smith v. MacIntosh moment if ever there was one.
My guess is that these guys have been there longer than Wildomar has been a city. I don't blame code enforcement, they need an ordinance with teeth in it before they can actually do anything about it.
Let's hope that the city kicks it into high gear when it comes to allowing such events as Wildomar Marketplace in the future.
• • •
The windows of my soul I throw Wide open to the sun. – John Greenleaf Whittier Wildomar Rapneither throws, nor tosses nor hurls any windows... not even if they come equipped with the Vista operating system.
This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.
Have you heard of Wildomar Marketplace yet? It started out as an idea from longtime Wildomar resident Stacy Williams. Initially she wanted to get some of the local moms together that either had small home based businesses, or were crafty but had no place to sell their goods.
Apologies to Stacy for not having a better photo, she's on the left. ☺
At first she just had it at her home, she and her husband have a bit of property in the middle of town, but there was such a large turnout during the February event that she realized she needed a larger venue for the next one.
Jewelry By Pamela at the Wildomar Marketplace Event last February at the old location.
After looking for a bigger location, she teamed up with The Corporate Room for April's event date, which made for a spectacular day for the vendors and shoppers alike.
A bird's eye view of the outside vendors at The Corporate Room location in April.
If you haven't been to The Corporate Room before, it's in the shopping center just east of the I-15 and just north of the Baxter overpass.
Making their way to the indoor vendors.
Take a look at the short video I made for them to get a flavor of what'll be there when you go... and don't forget to go inside too.
There will be more than 50 vendors on site, and with a great variety of things for you to browse and buy. A partial list includes: handmade soaps, fingernail overlays, wood designs, furniture, hand sewn baby items, pastries and cakes, Filipino food, tamales, skin care products, Wine Jamz, CBD oil, Jewelry, trucker hats for women, and slime (I'm guessing it's the fun stuff that modern kids love to play with ☺).
Feed to Fashion will be there with their shopping bags.
There will also be a raffle benefiting two charities Half the proceeds will be going to a charity backed by In-N-Out Burger called Slave2Nothing which aims to help protect children from trafficking.
The other charity is ALS1 (You may remember that they just completed their 3rd annual 5K in Wildomar (link to blog about it)
Please note that In-N-Out Burger/Slave 2 Nothing is not affiliated with the Marketplace and is not sponsoring the raffle. Neither is ALS1, nor the recent 5K promoters. They're just the charities that Wildomar Marketplace has designated as recipients of the proceeds.
The vendors will be putting together a large basket with things from their booths. The drawing will be at noon, and the winner needs to be present.
Shop local from local vendors.
This event is still trying to establish itself, something that really could be a great institution in Wildomar if they can get a following. Mark your calendars for Saturday June 9th, between 9am and 2pm. Come on out and shop local.
Mr. Videoman capturing Grace Richardson and George Hager as they leave their Wine Jamz booth to belt out some tunes. Check out the video below to hear how good the live entertainment is at this event.
The next three dates for Wildomar Marketplace are: August 11th, October 13th and December 8th.
Below is a previous video I made for the Wildomar Marketplace featuring Grace Richardson of the regional rock group Cougrzz Rock. She and George Hager produce jams made from wine. Watch the video to hear them describe their product. I've tasted many of the varieties they offer, and they are all very good.
The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. – William James Wildomar Rapis quite the artist.
This blog was produced for viewing on a desktop or a laptop. Though it's been optimized for smartphones, the formatting can look odd on a smartphone or if you get this delivered through email (such as missing video links). Link to proper format.
Posts
