Robert Huish, assistant principal at Margarita Middle School in Temecula to help raise funds for schools in West Africa. (Special to The Press-Enterprise)

In honor of the St. Patrick’s Day event, Gracie was dubbed the “Blarney Goat.” Winners were teachers Michele Elling and Michael Vaez, who tied with Robert Huish, assistant principal. Monies raised will go to Oprah’s Angel Network for schools in West Africa. Margarita’s CJSF is part of Oprah Winfrey’s O Ambassadors, under the direction of teacher/advisor Imelda Donnelly.

On March 14th, one hundred and fifty children, and seventy-five parents along with twenty-eight volunteers enjoyed a Easter Celebration at Celebration Park in Moreno Valley. This first annual event was sponsored by Catholic Charities, and was open to the public. Every boy and girl received a Basket from the Easter Bunny filled with goodies. Loads of prizes were given out to the children. Refreshments were hot dogs, sno-cones, popcorn, chips and punch.

The games ranged from a “Hola Hoop Contest” to “Pin the tail on the Mr. Cotton TailThe Easter Egg Coloring Contest was especially touching since for some of the participants had never done egg coloring in their life, and the eggs were adorned using crayons and stickers. The Easter Bunny showed up for photos and to kick off the Easter Egg Hunt.

All participants were given tickets from the games which could be redeemed for prizes. There were also raffles with the top gifts being bikes for a boy and girl. The fortune winner was a boy who had never had a bicycle. Community partners Inland Empire Health Plan and Molina Health Plan were also present giving-out information on low cost health care.

Many thanks to Corporate Sponsors were Walmart, Big Lots, Kohls, IEHP, Shakeys, Stater Bros, McDonalds, Smart & Final, Costco for their in-kind donations of food, gift cards, prizes and other support.

There is a Catholic Charities Easter Celebration scheduled for the Riverside area in 2009.

-- Gregory Kirwin

Parents Helping Parents gives parents tips, inspiration, and peer understanding to help struggling families to find a common ground and move in a positive direction. The program aims to give parents the knowledge and skills to cope with problems.

Registration is available at any neighborhood center, online at www.fontanarecreation.org, or by calling (909) 428-8383.

--Laura Van Sciver
City of Fontana

Kara Sainz, 15, sophomore at Murrieta High School, 2006 and 2007Junior Division vocal competition winner. (Special to The Press-Enterprise)

The adjudicators will work with the participants to help them improve their vocal technique or musicality. An award of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and an honorable mention will be assigned. The 6th through 9th grade category will receive prize money of $300 for 1st, $200 for 2nd, and $100 for 3rd. The 10th through 12th grade category will receive prize money of $500 for 1st, $400 for 2nd, and $300 for 3rd place finish. The event is open to the public.

The Temecula Valley Master Chorale recently received a grant of $5,000 from the Community Foundation in Riverside that will be used for their Education Outreach Program, which includes an area-wide youth vocal competition and free concert tickets to local middle and high school students.

For an application for the Temecula Valley Vocal Competition, please contact the Master Chorale office at 951-302-1652, or visit www.temeculavalleymasterchorale.org.

Slow Food is a worldwide movement that encourages people to forsake fast-food. The philosophy emphasizes meals using locally bought, organic ingredients and served in a casual, conversational atmosphere. Information: www.slowfoodusa.org or e-mail tvsslowfood@delytes.com.

The cost is $4.50 per person ages 3 and older for all sessions. The Imagination Workshop, Temecula Children’s Museum is located at 42081 Main St. in Old Town Temecula. For session times please call 951-308-6370.

“The new Signature terminal is a great new addition to the Palm Springs
International Airport and it exemplifies the goal of providing only the highest
level of customer service,” said Thomas Nolan, Executive Director of the
Airport. “It is not only a beautiful building to grace the airport profile, but it
includes all the amenities necessary to serve the airport’s corporate and
general aviation users.”

Signature Flight Support celebrated ground-breaking of the new terminal in
June 2007.

“The new terminal will allow Signature to exceed the very high expectations of
our corporate and general aviation customers,” said Joe Gibney, Vice President
of Sales and Marketing for Signature. “This project demonstrates our
commitment to offer the absolute best in both services and amenities.”

Signature’s executive terminal enjoys a modern design that incorporates angled
“butterfly” roof forms and a curved “wing” roof element at the drop-off canopy. It
includes such high-performance, earth-friendly design elements as natural
lighting through clerestory glass, a heavily insulated building envelope, energyefficient
mechanical systems and building materials with recycled content.

The strong geometry of the design provides a recognizable iconic identity for
the new Signature gateway to Palm Springs. The building materials, colors and
forms are designed to reflect the local natural elements and are compatible with
the region’s modern architectural vernacular.

“It creates a sense of the open desert landscape indoors and takes advantage

of the dramatic contrast between remote desert mountains and a bustling
airport,” said Gibney. “The aesthetics help make the time our customers spend
with us even more relaxing and enjoyable.”

Palm Springs International Airport is served by major airlines with about 100
flights daily that can connect passengers to cities worldwide. It is expected to
serve about 1.6 million passengers this year, according to Nolan.

Signature Flight Support, a BBA Aviation plc company, is the world’s largest
fixed base operation (FBO) and distribution network for business aviation
services. Signature services include fueling, hangar and office rentals, ground
handling and a wide range of crew and passenger amenities at strategic
domestic and international locations. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida,
Signature currently operates at more than 75 locations in the United States,
Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.

For more information, contact Nolan at 318-3800.

-- City of Palm Springs

“The reason for forming the Ecology Subcommittee is to heighten the
awareness of the City’s neighborhoods, developers and, hopefully, the entire
City of Palm Springs about the concerns we are facing not only with Global
Warming but also the ones right here in our own back yards,” said Sheila
Cobrin, who chairs the Ecology Committee. “We acknowledge that we can't
take on Global Warming, but we can offer some solutions right here in our City
with the education of our neighbors.”

The Committee’s objectives are to:

- identify and promote sensitive solutions to ecological problems;
- educate the public to the fact that individuals can make a difference; and
-promote “home ecology” and marketing of affordable products.

“We all must participate in the movement to reduce our carbon footprints, which
in turn, will help reduce our carbon footprint as a whole,” Cobrin said. “Every
little bit helps. Hopefully, someday when we all do something, future
generations will know a better way of life with cleaner and fresher air.”
The committee, which meets monthly, plans to participate in the Office of
Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) picnic on Saturday, May 10th at Ruth Hardy
Park with a display of ecology products for the home, said Lee Husfeldt,
Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations.

“Our neighborhoods play a key role in our community's sustainability efforts,”
Husfeldt said. “This subcommittee's work to educate and promote can help us
be successful. Individuals do make a difference.”

For more information, contact Husfeldt at 760.323.8255, or via e-mail at
Lee.Husfeldt@palmsprings-ca.gov.

-- City of Palm Springs

“The City Council is committed to improving the cleanliness and overall look of
the Downtown,” said City Manager David H. Ready. “Staff has been informally
polling visitors and business owners on what items were of most importance to
them in creating a better look for the Downtown. The most common comments
centered on the condition of the palm tree wells.”

Staff has met with outside landscape architects and sought direction from the
Desert Horticultural Society on what plant materials would be best. Desertappropriate
plant material, which requires minimal water, will be used.

In December, the City Council approved spending $150,000 to buy two riding
integrated sweeper/scrubbers and two mini scrubbers for the Parks and
Recreation Department to use to keep downtown buffed. These pieces of
equipment will allow the sidewalks to be cleaned more thoroughly – and in an
environmentally sensitive manner.

The sweeper/scrubbers are operated by
driving, rather than walking, so staff is able to
cover a larger area more quickly than with a
pressure washer. As a result, staff should be
able to increase the frequency and amount of
cleaning from once a month to once a week. In
addition, staff will be able to clean additional
areas such as the pedestrian entry areas from
the downtown parking structure.

The scrubbers act like mini street sweepers shooting water and cleaning agents
directly on the pavers while being scrubbed with nylon brushes. The scrubber
then collects the water so it can be disposed of properly rather than releasing it
into the storm-drain system.

-- City of Palm Springs

The Library developed its first Strategic Plan in 2004, which has guided the
Library for the past four years. A new plan is needed that addresses the
changing demographics of Palm Springs and the services required to meet
those needs.

“The 21st century Library user is expecting more virtual services, more
technological access, public programming that allows for lifelong learning, basic
and information literacy and parental involvement in youth programming,” said
Barbara Roberts, Director of Library Services.

Today, libraries are being used for:

- Community gathering places for discussion, debate, meeting friends and
neighbors, group study, lectures, and public programs
- Information Commons (computer training, Internet access, downloadable
audio, providing new technologies for the public to try, such as the
Kindle; one-on-one research assistance; information literacy)
- Early and basic literacy
- Lifelong learning
- Recreational reading and information

The type of building needed to meet these new Library uses includes such
features as:

- Fewer walls, flexibility of space
- Large spaces for lectures, programs and community meetings
- Exhibit space
- Ability to pod cast and videoconference
- Quiet areas for individual and group study
- Computer training labs
- Comfortable group seating arrangements
- Self-service options for check-out and check-in, as well as intuitive
signage for navigating the facility
- Wireless and standard computer access
- Adequate storage and ergonomic work areas for staff
- Ample parking for staff and public
The Library will use the Strategic Plan to develop budget, staffing, services,
programs and collections that better meet the needs of Palm Springs between
now and 2011.

The Library, which was built in 1975, caters to 260,000 patrons annually and
houses 155,000 items. Limited remodeling occurred in 1986 and 1996, which
added more space and improved access to the parking lot.

Providence Associates, which was one of five firms submitting proposals to
develop the Strategic Plan, has more than 28 years of Library Strategic
Planning experience throughout the country.

In other action Wednesday, the City Council:

- Approved plans and specifications to bid a restroom remodeling project
at the Convention Center. The Convention Center has three public
restrooms that have not been remodeled to match the new interior
design scheme of the overall building. The remodel includes new
counter tops, new floor tile, new restroom partitions, painting and lighting
improvements. The design is to match the other original building
restrooms that were remodeled last year.

- Approved plans and specifications for the rehabilitation or a runway and
taxiway at Palm Springs International Airport and authorized the
advertisement of bids.

-- City of Palm Springs