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Dear Friends and Second District Residents,
The summer months are now upon us! The month of July brings warmer weather, relaxation, vacations, and school breaks. It is also the time to celebrate American Independence Day, also called Fourth of July or July 4th.
Barbecues, parades, and fireworks are common traditions, but most importantly, the Fourth of July is our annual celebration of the birth of American independence.
Independence Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941 and the tradition of its celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from British rule and two days later, on July 4th (246 years ago!), delegates from the 13 original colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights stand as the foundation for our nation’s ideals of liberty and freedom – often referred to as the American Dream. This American Dream has kept our country alive for 246 years, and countless people strive to come to the United States for this reason alone.
It seems that we have a responsibility to ourselves, our children, and to many generations to come to keep this American Dream alive, or we may lose the most precious gift that our forefathers gave to us. Our freedom is something which should not be taken for granted – and we owe an immeasurable debt of thanks and gratitude to the brave men and women throughout our history who have risked and sacrificed their own lives for its protection.
So, when we gather with friends and family this Fourth of July, let us not only celebrate but let us take a few moments and be thankful for what we are celebrating.
BROADBAND PROGRAM UPDATE
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors took action on May 10, 2022, to reset the County’s Broadband Program. In conjunction with counties throughout our region, we are working to partner with many agencies as we prepare to launch a public outreach effort to promote the federally funded and managed Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a program providing qualified households with a monthly subsidy for broadband services.
We are sharing this information with you in advance as you may hear about this program on the radio or television in the near future. The Federal program is www.affordableconnectivity.gov. There will be a telephone number in the future specific for Riverside County, which we will share as it becomes available.
DROWNING PREVENTION
Although most drownings occur each year during the summer, drownings can happen at any time of the year to people of all ages – in bodies of water as big as the ocean or as small as a bucket.
Swimming pools and spas are great places for family fun. It’s important to ensure everyone follows these simple safety steps to stay safer in and around the water.
As Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public health officer for Riverside County has said, “The real tragedy of drowning is that it is 100 percent preventable, just by taking some simple steps whenever you or a loved one is around water.”
The Riverside County Water Safety Coalition is offering the following water safety tips:
• Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
• Teach children how to swim. Enroll children in survival swimming lessons and have them wear appropriate life jackets. Floaties are not enough to keep children from drowning.
• Teach children to stay away from drains.
• Ensure all pools and spas – both in your backyard and any public pool may visit – have compliant drain covers.
• If you own a pool or spa, install a fence around it, use safety covers and consider installing alarms or motion detectors near the pool gate. Gates should close on their own and open away from the pool.
• Get trained in CPR, basic first aid and rescue methods. Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.
• Finally, adults who are in or near water should avoid consuming alcohol and medications that can influence judgment, balance and the ability to swim.
In 2022 (so far), there have been five accidental adult drownings and zero accidental child drownings in Riverside County.
About the Riverside County Water Safety Coalition
The Riverside County Water Safety Coalition is a collaborative among Riverside University Health System - Medical Center, Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, CAL FIRE / Riverside County Fire Department and Riverside University Health System - Public Health to promote water safety and drowning prevention. To learn more about the coalition, visit www.ruhealth.org/rivcowatersafety.
RIVCOPARKS RECEIVES GRANT FUNDING
Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District (RivCoParks) was awarded grant funding from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Outdoor Equity Program. The goal of this program is to establish hubs for local activities and trips to natural areas for underserved communities. Through access to nature, the program also seeks to educate youth and families to become responsible stewards of the environment and to empower them with information on career pathways related to nature and the environment.
RivCoParks will use the awarded grant funds to bring local communities to the beautiful Hidden Valley Wildlife Area in Riverside. The Hidden Valley Nature Center is located within the wildlife area, and offers many nature education events, displays, and programs for children and the public. The 1,500-acre wildlife area is home to hundreds of species of birds, wildlife, aquatic life, trees, plants, an 8-mile stretch of the Santa Ana River, seasonal ponds, and 25 miles of well-maintained multi-use trails with scenic views of our beautiful rugged Southern California mountains.
“Our goal is to increase access to our beautiful outdoor spaces for youth and families who might not otherwise have had the opportunity,” stated RivCoParks General Manager Kyla Brown “Making sure that all people have access to parks and open spaces is central to improving physical and mental health, and quality of life in our communities.”
Public agencies statewide competed for the grant funding, with over $167 million dollars in requests received for the $57 million dollars available via this highly competitive program. RivCoParks staff are looking forward to sharing outdoor adventures with participants starting in Fall 2022.
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 hope you enjoy this e-newsletter. Please reach out to my office if we may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Karen Spiegel, Supervisor
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Fireworks are illegal in Riverside County!
Fireworks are illegal in all unincorporated areas of Riverside County and within almost all city limits. Illegal fireworks pose dangers to people, homes, animals, and the environment. During last year’s enforcement activities, the county issued 269 citations, made 14 arrests, and seized more than 3,600 pounds of illegal fireworks. By local ordinance, the California-approved “safe and sane” fireworks are only permitted within the city limits of Blythe, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, and Indio.
"Fireworks can cause serious, lifelong injuries and can even kill. Fireworks also spark structural and wildland fires that destroy property," said Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser. "In addition to imposed fines, anyone who causes a wildland fire by using fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs and damages."
Throughout this July 4th Holiday weekend, Riverside County Code Enforcement in partnership with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department will be out issuing citations that can cost you $1,000.00 for your first offense and up to $5,000.00 for repeated violations for possessing, selling, and using illegal fireworks.
Residents can report illegal firework activity by calling the non-emergency phone line:1-800-950-2444 or submit a fireworks report online at www.riversidesheriff.org, or by downloading the Riverside County Sheriff’s mobile app. Visit www.rvcfire.org for a list of approved public fireworks shows in Riverside County. (fireworks show list at rvcfire.org will be updated as they are approved)
If you are interested in getting involved with local Boards, Committees & Commissions within the Second District, please do not hesitate to click the link below or contact our Office at 951-955-1020 or District2@rivco.org
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
 The Riverside County Transportation Commission, in partnership with Caltrans, is repaving lanes and making repairs to sound walls and associated concrete barriers along the outer portions of eastbound and westbound 91 in Corona. Work will take place mainly between the Lincoln Ave interchange and Interstate 15, in an area with a long history of roadway settlement due to the Temescal Wash. This work is part of an ongoing investment in the heavily traveled 91 corridor.
The “91 Refresh” work will take place during the summer and fall of 2022. Temporary lane shifts, weekend full closures, and lane closures will allow crews to safely complete the repaving and repair work. The lane shifts will help preserve the current number of lanes available to motorists and reduce the number of required nightly lane closures and weekend closures. Work on surface streets also will occur.
For additional information, please visit https://www.rctc.org/projects/91-refresh-project/. To receive email updates about the 91 Refresh Project, please register at 91Refresh@rctc.org or text “91REFRESH” to 77222 for text updates.
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Celebrating 25 Years
 The Riverside County Library System will be celebrating 25 years as a system. Library Systems and Services partnered with the County on July 1st 1997, making the system the first government organization in the United States to operate a library as a public-private partnership. Look out for our celebrations in your local library and online at https://www.rivlib.net/
Also during the month of July, Spanish streaming service theShelf.tv will be coming soon to our Digital Library! Experience thousands of Spanish movies and TV series with just your library card. For additional information, please visit https://www.rivlib.net/.
2022 National Night Out
Mark your calendar! The City of Eastvale, City of Norco – Horsetown USA, , City of Jurupa Valley, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station, and CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, JCSD Parks & Recreation Department, and Jurupa Area Parks & Recreation District invite you to attend the 2022 National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Harada Heritage Park, located at 13099 65th Street in Eastvale.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong law enforcement-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live, work and play. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police, neighbors, non-profit organizations and businesses together under positive circumstances.
Every year, the cities of Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and Norco alternate hosting National Night Out for our combined communities, which are all serviced by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. This year, the City of Eastvale is proud to host this FREE, family & pet friendly event, which will include public safety meet and greets, exciting law enforcement demonstrations, live music, interactive vendor booths, food trucks, entertaining activities for kids, raffles, games and giveaways!
For more information, contact the City of Eastvale at (951) 703-4419 or email: events@eastvaleca.gov
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 one (1) 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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