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Dear Friends and Second District Residents,
Spring has arrived and April brings new beginnings and a time to blossom. Like the flowers and trees, it's an opportunity to start fresh and shed those cool weather layers. This month comes with a wide array of holidays and observances, giving us a unique reason to embrace each day.
From health awareness and community involvement, to cuisines, arts, reading and music, and more – April is a month worth celebrating. There are many ways we can each join in! For example, wear a blue ribbon to support Autism Awareness or National Child Abuse Prevention Month; fly a kite for National Kite Month; volunteer for a good cause during Volunteer Week (April 17-23); participate in community cleanup for Earth Day (April 22); or plant a tree for National Arbor Day (April 29).
Other fun days this month include National Siblings Day (April 10), National Pet Day (April 11), National Jelly Bean Day (April 22), National Picnic Day (April 23), National Pretzel Day (April 26), Babe Ruth Day (April 27), National Superhero Day (April 28), and International Jazz Day (April 30).
This year Ramadan, Good Friday, Easter, and Passover fall in April. And, though rarely considered a holiday for many, the inevitable day annual taxes are due in the U.S. falls this year on April 18.
Pinwheels for Prevention
Each April, during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Riverside County works in collaboration with the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), First 5 Riverside County, Hope Collaborative, Riverside University Health System (RUHS) and the Riverside County Child Assessment Team (RCCAT) in addition to law enforcement, faith-based organization and others to bring awareness to preventing child abuse and neglect. We recognize the importance of communities working together to prevent child maltreatment by helping families thrive.
County partners are encouraging families and local organizations to display pinwheels to show support for child abuse prevention. The pinwheels represent innocence and the bright future all children deserve. Advocates also encourage community members to promote positive parenting classes and share the warning signs of child abuse and neglect.
For more information: ruhsfoundation.org/index.php/special-events/pinwheels-for-prevention
Changes to Waste and Recycling
If you are not aware, a new law has taken effect January 1, 2022 (SB 1383) which will affect all of California. Per CalRecycle, this is the largest change to the waste and recycling industries in 30 years. The law establishes new organic waste collection and recycling programs, food recovery programs, and requirements for jurisdictions to procure recycled organic products like compost and renewable gas. All of these activities are a coordinated effort to reduce the amount of organic waste that is sent to landfills by 75 percent by 2025.
The State defines “Organic waste” as food, landscape and pruning trimmings, lumber, wood, manure, cardboard, paper products, printing and writing paper, and other plant and animal-based products.
Although this may seem aggressive, the wheels began moving in September 2016 when the State Legislature passed SB 1383. From 2016 to 2020, the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) worked to develop regulations to achieve the goals of SB 1383. These new regulations were finalized by CalRecycle in November 2020 and took effect in January 2022. Depending on where you live and who is your waste hauler, more details will be coming out in the near future.
For more information: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/climate/organics
The Supervisors will work together during this transition. My team and I are committed to continuing to serve you and welcome any questions you may have regarding redistricting.
The Riverside County Second District Supervisor’s office Staff are available Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to assist you. You can reach my office by calling (951) 955-1020 or by emailing District2@rivco.org and staff will assist you promptly.
I encourage you to stay connected by joining District 2 on Facebook @SupervisorKarenSpiegel or Twitter @SupKarenSpiegel and Instagram @SupervisorKarenSpiegel
I hope you enjoy this e-newsletter. Please reach out to my office if we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Karen Spiegel
Second District Supervisor
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECTS
  At the Board meeting on April 5th, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an item sponsored by Supervisor Spiegel authorizing the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for three needed projects within the Second District.
The American Rescue Plan Act is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed into law by President Biden in March 2021. The intent of the bill is to accelerate the United States recovery from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes allocation of ARPA funding within disproportionately impacted communities for projects to develop neighborhood features that promote improved health and safety outcomes, such as parks, green spaces, recreational facilities, sidewalks, pedestrian safety features like crosswalks, projects that increase access to healthy foods, streetlights, neighborhood clean-up, and other projects to revitalize public access.
The three Riverside County projects approved by the Board of Supervisors, include:
Home Gardens Park
The citizens of Home Gardens community have expressed their interest in a Community Park for many years and the County of Riverside is now in a position to deliver. Parks and open spaces make communities, and Supervisor Spiegel is excited to see this project become a reality.
Rancho Esperanza DPSS Houses
The Rancho Esperanza DPSS Houses project is a joint effort between the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District and the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to construct and provide water and sewer connections to up 3 prefabricated houses to be called Rancho Esperanza within Rancho Jurupa Park. Rancho Esperanza will serve as a temporary safe haven that will provide comprehensive care for children, ages 0-17, who are impacted by child abuse and neglect.
The overall goal of Rancho Esperanza is to engage children in immediate trauma-informed care services and promote stability during times of crisis.
This project is one of a series of efforts being made by the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Team to enhance our abilities to provide the highest level of care and compassionate treatment for vulnerable children throughout the county.
Jurupa Ditch Replacement
The Rancho Jurupa ditch is the oldest continuously operated irrigation ditch in Southern California and serves more than 12 farmers in Jurupa Valley in addition to two County parks (the Jensen-Alvarado Historic Ranch and the Louis Rubidoux Nature Center), as well as existing farms in Jurupa Valley.
The Rancho Jurupa ditch has significant infrastructure deficiencies which are impacting the quantity and quality of water delivered. The replacement project will improve the efficiency of the ditch, water quality, and reduce water loss and interruptions in water deliveries due to the current frequent emergency repairs.
INNOVATION MONTH
Innovation Month
The month of April is dedicated to innovation in Riverside County and will showcase many innovative and entrepreneurial activities and events. From startups to big tech, Innovation Month brings together a new generation of creative minds to explore the industry of the future.
Great advances in entrepreneurship are happening throughout Riverside County. Please join us to highlight these successes and learn all that the County has to offer to support business growth!
For information on events happening throughout the month, visit: https://www.rivcoinnovation.org/
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
HAMNER BRIDGE
  The County of Riverside in cooperation with the City of Norco and the City of Eastvale have been working to replace the existing Hamner Avenue Bridge over the Santa Ana River for the benefit of our residents. This bridge is a critical link between the City of Norco and City of Eastvale and is approximately 1,300 feet to the west of the 1-15 Bridges over the Santa Ana River in the City of Norco. The video shows the progress we have made as we work to complete the Hamner Bridge.
VETERAN SERVICES
Dear Veteran,
You may be eligible for newly enacted service-connected benefits.
Over the course of the last six months, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun processing service-connected disability claims for six new presumptive conditions related to environmental exposures during military service. We request your help in making more Veterans aware of these newly added presumptive conditions to help them file a claim and obtain any earned benefits. In May 2021, VA started implementing provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), adding bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism to the list of medical conditions presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange. A few months later VA added asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) on a presumptive basis based on particulate matter exposures during military service in Southwest Asia and certain other areas.
Any Veteran who was previously denied service-connection for any of these six conditions but had symptoms manifest within 10 years of military service would need to file a supplemental claim. Be sure to use VA Form 20-0995, Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim when filing. The claim form should include the name of the condition and specify that the condition is being claimed due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards.
VA is committed to assisting Veterans who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during their military service. Be sure to stay plugged in to www.va.gov for the most recent developments around environmental exposures during military service, as VA is constantly conducting research and surveillance as well as reviewing scientific literature for conditions that may be related to exposure during military service. For more information about VA benefits and eligibility, or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors can visit VA’s website at www.va.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
RTA UPDATES
COMMUNITY EVENTS
 
There is an urgent need for blood throughout Riverside County. Our local hospitals and blood banks are in critical need of donations. LifeStream Blood Bank has ZERO units of Group O blood on hand, and several patients in the community need blood now. Without blood on our shelves, these patients' lives are at risk.
Make an appointment to donate blood today: call 800-879-4484, visit https://www.lstream.org/, or download the LifeStream app TODAY.
FARMERS MARKETS IN THE AREA
As the summer season heats up, so does the popularity of Farmers Markets. We are pleased to share the following information on Farmers Markets located throughout the Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley and Riverside areas. Enjoy!
 Looking for some Friday night fun? Come and hang out at the Eastvale Farmers Market, every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the New Day Christian Church: 7155 Hamner Ave., Eastvale CA 92880.
Fresh produce, farm fresh eggs, freshly baked bread, microgreens, farm fresh honey and MUCH MORE!! For more information or on how to become a vendor, please email: eastvalefarmersmarket@gmail.com
HIGHGROVE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (MAC) BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS - APPLY NOW!
Are you interested in what’s going on in the community of Highgrove? If you live within the unincorporated community of Highgrove, be sure to apply for two (2) Alternate Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) positions . Get to know your Sheriff Deputies, Code Enforcements Officers, School Board Members, Animal Control Specialists and more! Interested parties may apply online at www.rivcodistrict2.org under Boards-Committees & Commissions.
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