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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Jury Duty Scam - Read this warning!



This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone in your e-mail address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.

The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security Number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo---your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado . This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Check it out here:


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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

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.




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Sunday, January 18, 2009

January 17, 2009 Meeting Minutes

DHS Relay for Life Cancer Walk
Click to enter Team B-BAR-H Ranch: We BAR Cancer Website.
Join our team today!


B-BAR-H Ranch Community Association
January 17, 2009 Neighborhood Meeting Minutes Summary
By Anna Miller, Secretary

• New Year Welcome by President Curtis Schway
o Welcomed everyone & new attendees
o Summarized 2008 accomplishments
o We miss Guy Hildebrand and hope he is doing well.
o 2009 ongoing effort to keep our neighborhood clean and safe


• Guest Speaker Introductions by Secretary Anna Miller
o Neighborhood improvement is ongoing. Code Enforcement has already helped us by contacting the owners of many of the vacant lots to have the lots cleaned of garbage and construction remnants. Chaka and Regina from Code Enforcement helped us identify CE violations and what we can do to get situations addressed.
o Chaka Osborne, Code Enforcement Improvement Specialist. The next neighborhood clean up is schedules for March 21st. We'll be in touch with Chaka to get trash bins set at the B-BAR-H Ranch Arch.
o Regina Keyes, Code Enforcement Officer establishd one point of contact for our neighborhood. We requested "illegal dumping" signs be posted along 20th Avenue and Bubbling Wells Road.
o There have been complaints about a trailer parked on the street in front of a house on Paintbrush Trail. Regina said she notified the owner to have the trailer moved to his driveway.


DHS Cancer Walk by TreasurerJim Fosbinder and Pat Carney
o Team B-BAR-H Ranch - We BAR Cancer! has been established to walk in the DHS Relay for Life Cancer Walk 2009
o January 28th party at Senior Center - Kick Off Party, food, silent auction, fun!
o Contact Jim to register as a participant to walk on our team.
o Click Here to Register Online or make a donation to our team. All donations are tax deductible.


Shake Rattle & Roll - Earthquake Simulation was announced by Pat Carney. It's scheduled on February 21, 2009 at the DHS High School Vendors will be there with products and services available to prepare for earthquakes. This is to be a very informative and simulated real-life event.


• Neighborhood Party by Toni M. Ringlein
o Toni Ringlein volunteered to head the coordination of our neighborhood party. It was suggested we have the party on the same day as the next clean up day, March 21st.
o Party Planning Committee was formed.
o First planning meeting is set for January 27th.


• Meeting Closure by President Curtis Schway
o Attendees want to meet every other month in 2009. Some people can't attend on the weekend. We decided to have our next meeting during the week. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the VFW. Pat Carney will confirm date and time.
o Invitations will be sent via door-to-door, email and posted on the blog at
PaintbrushTrail.com. People volunteered to help distribute paper invitations.

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Sunday, January 4, 2009

Neighborhood Meeting Notice

Glitter Graphics



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.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Riverside County Neighborhood Conference October 25, 2008


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.



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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Minutes - Stray dogs discussed


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.



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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

FREE Clean Up Day & Neighborhood Meeting Agenda


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

Mark your calendar and plan to attend both events.


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.

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

B-BAR-H Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

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.

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Saturday, September 6, 2008

B-BAR-H Neighborhood Comments - Time for a WATCH


The B-BAR-H Neighborhood Blog was established to create a forum for open communication within our community in an effort to bring us together. The goal is to enhance our neighborhood by working together. The anonymous comments were plentiful and diverse. Now, as a neighborhood, we will meet to discuss ways to move forward for our community.


B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood Meeting
September 13, 2008
10:00 a.m. VFW Hall


Whose Responsibility is it?
Below is a list of topics and anonymous comments from the blog posts. The B-BAR-H Neighborhood will need to decide whose responsibility it is to address each concern. Is it the County's responsibility or is it the B-BAR-H Neighborhood's responsibility? Or, is it both, the County and the B-BAR-H Neighborhood's responsibility to work together?

The comments made on the blog can easily become the topics for the B-BAR-H Neighborhood meeting on September 13th. We hope a Sherrif and Code Enforcement Representative will be in attendance on the 13th to define a neighborhood watch and answer our questions.


B-BAR-H Neighborhood Watch
We must remain sensitive to peoples' needs and at the same time address issues as a community. Because the Code Enforcement Agency already visited our area and identified violations, we know there's work to be done. So, whenever a County Code violation is brought to the forefront, the B-BAR-H Watch should be asked to address the violation prior to a member of our neighborhood being fined by Riverside County Code Enforcement.

It Must Work for the Common Good of All
B-BAR-H Watch neighbors who see violations can submit an anonymous comment on the blog with the address of the violator or write directly to the Webmaster @ PaintbrushTrail.com. The Blog's Webmaster is a neutral, non-threatening party and will forward the comments to the The B-BAR-H Watch group. The B-BAR-H Watch must confirm the violation with the Code Enforcement & Sheriffs Departments. If the item is determined to be a violation, the B-BAR-H Watch must contact the owner. If the violation is not addressed properly within a reasonable amount of time, the B-BAR-H Watch will be asked to submit the violation to the County Code Enforcement Agency. As stated above, we must remain sensitive to peoples' needs and at the same time address issues as a community.

You don't have to wait until the 13th to speak your thoughts. An anonymous comment can be posted at the end of this article.

B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood Meeting
September 13, 2008
10:00 a.m. VFW Hall


Blog Comments & Concerns
Below is a summary of comments from Blog posts which can easily become meeting topics. We can discuss the comments and vote on how we want to move forward with each item. We also need to determine whose responsibility it is to make sure concerns are addressed properly. Everyone will be asked to participate in one way or another for our community.

COMMUNICATION. I'll be the first to say, this is a great idea.

NO MAILBOX DELIVERY. STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY MAIL BOX.


YES MAILBOX DELIVERY. I was happy to see the newsletter today in my mailbox.

USPS NEWSLETTER DELIVERY ($?). I agree that it's probably best these flyers be mailed and an opt in opt out option wouldn't hurt

EMAIL DELIVERY (no cost). maybe something on the web page or via email

PARKED VEHICLE STORAGE. I think having vehicles in the front of the house is also a violation, especially if they are non-working?

• LOUD MUSIC. I hope that others have complained to the County Sheriff about the loud music/band practice at the house on Long Canyon Drive - it's been a nightmare the past couple of months.

• RENTERS – PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITY. I know that many homeowners in the neighborhood have had to resort to renting their properties, but as a community, we should insist that the owners make certain that their renters keep the property maintained.

BROKEN GLASS. On one street, there has been broken glass in front of the mailbox for about 4 months.

DOGS. let's address our "neighbors" (and I use this term lightly) who allow their dogs to roam unleashed, at any time of the day, whether the dog-owner is present or not! At no time should any dog not be on a leash or otherwise contained. It is just plain rude to let your dog do its business in someone else's yard!


• BUS STOPS. One other area to address in our community would also be the public school bus stop areas.

• DUMPED CONSTRUCTION GARBAGE. We have our children waiting for the school bus with sometimes glass in the street or dumped construction materials that are in the bus stop areas. This is a health hazard for our children as well as having loose dogs running around the neighborhood, my family and I have had issues with loose Pit bulls in our yard once even attacking my vehicle with myself and children inside as we sat in our drive way thinking how we were going to get inside our home safely.

EXCESSIVE GARBAGE PILES. Our children have to walk to the bus stop in fear of being attacked by DOGS! There's glass in the streets!!! There's garbage piled in yards which attract RATS! Things are getting out of control.

TEAM EFFORT. This will be a team effort

• CLEAN COMMUNITY. I am in full agreement with keeping our community clean.

• FRONT YARD MOTOR HOME PARKING. trash is trashy, just as are cars on the front lawns, mariachi music bands until late night hours, and front yard motor home parking.

COUNTY INVOLVEMENT. We need to figure out how we can get the County involved to help us clean up the area.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. Something needs to be done, absolutely the trash needs to be cleaned, dogs leashed, dog doo cleaned, vandals discouraged, and I could deff go without the 10pm jam sessions.

TAKE OWNERSHIP & RESPONISBILITY. you don’t have to clean your neighbors yard, all that is asked is that you clean your own so we don’t have to look at it.

PARTICIPATION. I think the only unfortunate thing about this forum of gathering is chances are the only people to actually look at the page, or care to participate are the ones that are already following the guidelines of local law and common sense or respect.

SUNDAY MEETINGS? I'd like to assist and wish I could attend the meetings, but unfortunately I work Saturdays. How else can I get my opinion heard, volunteer to assist, or read meeting minutes? Is it possible to maybe do Sunday meetings or even a chat room of some kind?

SERIOUS ISSUES. I find it odd that anyone would object to this newsletter, unless you are one of our neighbors with RV's in your front yard, trash everywhere, or just plain junk on the side of your house. (And I refer to GARBAGE - not garbage CANS.)Today I saw graffiti on the side of a house on Sagebrush. We can expect more of the same because there are so many vacant homes here. We need to band together - not GRIPE about a single piece of paper in your mailbox inviting us to be a united presence in our neighborhood. It is not the time to be petty about something unimportant like a neighborhood newsletter in your mailbox. We have more serious issues at hand, do we not?

• GRAFFITI. My wife and I spent the morning cleaning up the mess that "Dios" left around the entrance to the ranch. During that time we met Pat, who lives on El Serape. He already has a small emergency communication team, and really wants to get the community involved with a neighborhood watch. He suggested having a meeting at the Veterans Hall. He mentioned that he knows how to put a meeting together, but I read about officer Pike helping with this? Let's get this rolling!!! The tagging is to close for comfort... It's time to get PROACTIVE!

• VIOLATIONS. The county code enforcement officer was here on August 15th and there were 5 families present when he said he was going to write tickets for neighborhood violations.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP. I think having a neighborhood clean up once or twice a year is a great idea. Thanks for the nice site.

If you have an anonymous comment, please leave it by clicking the "comments" link below.

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Friday, September 5, 2008

Keep Kids Safe at the B-BAR-H Ranch!


The efforts we make to improve our neighborhood can be focussed on one very important fact. Our streets need to be safe for our children. We may not all have children, but for those who do have children living on the B-BAR-H Ranch property, there are concerns about their children's safety, and that's important. It's important enough for all of us to take a stand for the children.
We all should be concerned about our neighbors' children. Please take time to make sure the items in your yard are child-proof. Clean the street area in front of your home where the children walk to the bus stop. Take time to create a safe environment for the children. We do not want anything to happen to any of the children in our neighborhood.
There have been a variety of comments made by many of the people who live at the B-BAR-H Ranch. The PaintbrushTrail.com Blog is designed so anyone can make an anonymous comment about anything they desire. Open communication will help us bridge the gaps and understand all the viewpoints. There's no right way or wrong way -- there's only differences, and the way we can approach the tasks at hand is as a community. It's a way we can address the concerns of the neighborhood.
Here's some comments made pertaining to the safety of our children. These comments are taken directly from the anonymous comments our neighbors made. If people are thinking about these things, then we need to do something to minimize the stress and create a safe neighborhood for the children.
One person wrote, "Our children have to walk to the bus stop in fear of being attacked by DOGS! There's glass in the streets!!! There's garbage piled in yards which attract RATS! Things are getting out of control."
Another comment was made, "We have our children waiting for the school bus with sometimes glass in the street or dumped construction materials that are in the bus stop areas. This is a health hazard for our children as well as having loose dogs running around the neighborhood, my family and I have had issues with loose Pit bulls in our yard once even attacking my vehicle with myself and children inside as we sat in our drive way thinking how we were going to get inside our home safely."
On Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall (scroll page to see the map) the B-BAR-H Ranch Neighborhood is meeting to discuss items like those listed above. We hope you attend the meeting and join the conversation.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Neighborhood Meeting - Date, Time, Place

B-BAR-H Ranch
Neighborhood Meeting

Please mark your calendar:
Saturday, September 13, 2008
10:00 a.m.
VFW Hall
(see map below)
___________________________
Meeting Agenda:
Meet & Greet!
Neighborhood Watch
Community Clean Up Day
Task Force Committee Volunteers
___________________________
We look forward to seeing you!
Questions?
Click the Comments link below, type your question, and someone will respond.

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

News Flash.... Join us at the VFW on Labor Day!



B-BAR-H Community Welcome! Come to the VFW on Labor Day from 2-6 p.m. for a BBQ. $5.00 donations.

This is a perfect way to meet each other and see each other again!

A separate Neighborhood Meeting at the VFW is in the works, stay tuned. We'll share more information here soon! We'll also put a meeting notice in everyone's mailboxes to make sure those who do not use the Internet will have plenty of time to plan for the meeting.

We are looking forward to meeting our neighbors, and Labor Day is a perfect time to say, "Hi!"
______________

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



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