What's Happening

Trees `R Us

Once a year we celebrate Arbor Day in the United States and throughout the world in which all citizens are asked to take particular care of their trees and to plant new ones for the environment. We in Scripps Ranch are blessed with marvelous trees, even with lerp infestation, and we have a tradition of observing and supporting Arbor Day in April.

This was forcefully brought home to us as a favorite plum tree along Red Cedar Drive was killed by a leaking SDG&E gas line and had to be removed. We will plant a row of hedges and a new tree. Happy to say the leak was reported to me by several residents so we got it repaired before any further damage. The new fence looks better for the long haul.

Christmas Tree Recycling a Big Success

Thanks to all of you for recycling your Christmas trees at the Community Park parking lot for mulching and use in our landfill rehab efforts. For you new residents doing this for the first time, the idea of recycling Christmas trees was started by Scripps Ranch residents in 1977. We collected the trees in Hoyt Park and then transported them to the landfill.

The city found this such a good idea that they assumed the role and purchased a large tub thumper to recycle whole Christmas trees and even agreed to pick up the trees. This is one city service that remains and we are grateful for it.

Recycle as Best You Can

I have been asked by the city and electronic recyclers to thank all for the wonderful community response after requests for recycling. They ask you to continue the efforts, as they are needed to save our landfill and environment. Our normal community recycling is every other week using the blue containers.

San Diego and Its Future

Mayor Jerry Sanders delivered his final State of the City address to a full house, as usual. His speech was, as expected, filled with predictions of good times such as solutions to the massive city pension payment and other problems. These issues he said, "would be ended" before his term in December. This apparently is in reference to the passage of the ballot measure for changing the city hiring, firing, and pension plans.

As expected he included some carryovers from the past redevelopment projects era whose completion or status the state edicts have changed dramatically. It is questioned how many can be finished without state funding although they are under construction. His comments "we will be fearless and we will finish what we started," means he intends to remain busy for the year to come. This will be of major interest to the mayoral candidates and, of course, for us. Despite many uncertainties, we should expect proper basic services will be provided by the city to us even under a new Council district and new Council member.

The major ongoing projects, in some instances, are forecasted to be funded by donations to complete such as the new central library. Remember the library is also slated to have a charter high school with state-of-the-art facilities in the upper floors. With the state budget in such flux, just about everything is subject to possible slow down, and the chancy concept of asking for a tax increase is being raised again. All in all, a favorable and needed upbeat report for our fair city. Hope it pans out that way. Stay tuned to the positions of the mayoral candidates as to how they will bring about the desired and required changes.

Schools and Schooling

I would like to say some good solutions are emerging to meet the continuing crises in school funding but there appears to be none. The state remains in flux as to what to do. Somehow the solution always hinges on adding new taxes when cuts in current programs, despite the need for those programs, have to be made to meet the problems of insufficient revenue with expenditures remaining high.

Suffice it to say, it will require parents and businesses to continue to assist in fundraising by our schools to maintain their high standards of performance. Please support events such as Scripps Ranch High School's 6th Annual Taste of the Ranch on Saturday, Feb. 25. See this Newsletter's centerfold for details.

Together We Are Scripps Ranch

Are you aware of all that the Scripps Ranch Civic Association (SRCA) does? The number one point you should know is that it is the leading group that maintains the quality of life we all enjoy here in Scripps Ranch. It advocates for our community and provides many of the traditional events enjoyed by our families.

In order to allow the SRCA to continue it's work, all we is ask is that you support this organization--YOUR organization--and your community. Just go to page 7 in this Newsletter or online at [www.scrippsranch.org] and make a donation. It's making a donation to keep our wonderful quality of life in the best community in Southern California.

Recognition Night

Just a reminder about the annual SRCA Recognition Night for our extraordinary volunteers who make our community so special. Don't miss this event on Monday, Apr. 9, at 6:30 pm in the Marshall Middle School auditorium. Plan to go and honor these special people, who are also our neighbors.

In addition, if you know of a wonderful volunteer who has helped you or your family and you would like to honor him or her, go to the SRCA website at [www.scrippsranch.org] and nominate them. The deadline is Monday, Feb. 20.

Garage Sale Day Announced

Coldwell Banker announced it will sponsor the communitywide Garage Sale one week before our spring Clean-Up Day. We will include more information in the Newsletter as the event nears. But for now, here's the date and time so you can put it on your calendar.

• Date: Saturday, Apr. 14
• Time: 9 am-noon

Spring Clean-Up Day

The fine program that makes Scripps Ranch one of the cleanest and neatest communities in San Diego started as a city program in l977 by Joyce Urban and me under the "I Love a Clean San Diego" program. In Scripps Ranch we gave out ribbons to scouts who dutifully collected trash twice a year, and then proudly displayed their service ribbons.

As happens to good ideas it was desired by many communities, so the city assumed the duty of supporting the effort. It quickly became so popular that the haulers ceased to provide the dumpsters for free so the SRCA, using your donation funds, assumed the costs as part of the Civic Affairs Committee budget. We have insisted, however, that the city provide us with the dumping fees for the landfill and our City Council office arranges this. Our wonderful Kiwanis Club now sponsors and runs the Clean-Up Days, for which we are very grateful.

This year the event is on Saturday, Apr. 21, from 8 am until noon. It's your semi-annual opportunity to pick up and clean up and make our Scripps Ranch shine. In addition to picking up your own space, take a section of open area and clean it up for all of us. If you have a group wanting a special area, contact me at [mistersr@san.rr.com] or the Kiwanis Club and "do your thing."

We would like to establish a new separate collection point for the convenience of Miramar Ranch North residents and need a location and several people to help staff it for part of the day. If you can help in any way, please contact me at [mistersr@san.rr.com]. We thank you for the opportunity to expand this community service.

Chargers

If you are a Charger fan waiting for the team to ever charge to victory or at least play a winning season, your wait will continue. The Chargers will keep both the coach and general manager as well as a so-called nucleus of a successful, if not winning, football team.

Injuries are a condition of playing football but if millionaire players do not produce to their capacity they are a drag on the team. We can be asked to be patient for more years and expect to hear more about the need for a new stadium--what about a new winning team first?

Thanks for Many Blessings

I was contacted over Christmas by a veteran who was my executive officer in the Korean War. He earned a Silver Star helping defend our battery against overwhelming odds when the Chinese entered the war. They got right up to our gun shields before we eliminated them in very fierce personal combat.

He had continued in the service for a full 30-year career. He wrote that his wife, who had Alzheimer's for years and who he had nurtured, had died. Also that he was doing okay although he was now legally blind and in an assisted living home. It was a forceful reminder that veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars are still around and need help and care.

So remember the veterans in your actions, and when we hear about Obama reducing the defense budget as it must be reduced, do not forget the wounded and disabled veterans still around. This calls for the same sort of supportive actions for the many seniors in our midst by our Elder Care Alliance.

Our Community at Its Best

I was sitting out in my front driveway cutting up the Christmas tree into smaller lengths so I could take it to the recycling area when a very nice young man and his wife drove up and asked if I could help them. Of course I said, "Ask away." He said they really liked Scripps Ranch and would like to move in but probably could not afford to purchase a house and would like to rent and asked if I knew of any houses for rent.

I said there were few rentals available and told him of the only one I knew. I, however, recommended several realtors who possibly could help. He knew none of them so I asked if they had seen our monthly community Newsletter. They had not, so I got the latest two issues and showed them all the entries. They were so pleased to get the latest information.

I asked if I could help in any other way, gave them one of my cards, and told them they could email me as I am deaf. His reaction was priceless saying, "Wow, we really hit the jackpot by stopping at your house. Thanks so much."

It was such a nice reaction from a young man who just happened to be wearing a T-shirt from one of my seven alma maters, USC. So pleasing to me as a Ranch supporter to be approached and be helpful and, most important, be able to highlight our very special community by showing off our fine Newsletter with all its family information.

Thought Provoker

For a change of pace, here is a "left brain/right brain" magic trick to try with the kids--it works. Sit at a chair or desk and lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. While doing the circles draw the number 6 in the air with your right hand. You will see your foot will change directions and there is nothing you can do about it. Funny feeling, right? Try it again, it works--magic!