News

[Editor's note: If there are updates about the copper wire thefts at our parks, the SRCA will send an email to members and post the information on the SRCA website at [www.scrippsranch.org].]

You Can Fight Crime

Now that the holiday season is behind us and we are a month into keeping our New Year's resolutions, it's time to think seriously about safeguarding your neighborhood. The success of Neighborhood Watch depends on your involvement.

Our goal is to have every home in Scripps Ranch involved in an active Neighborhood Watch with neighbors on their street. It doesn't take much to get a group going; however, someone needs to volunteer as block captain.

Block captains are the organizers for their neighborhood group. They maintain a roster of their group, distribute information received from SRCANW, and hold an informal block party or meeting once or twice a year. A meeting can be held in a home, a backyard, a garage, or a cul-de-sac. You round up the neighbors and we'll do the rest.

We are here to help you have a successful Neighborhood Watch program. Our website has downloadable resource materials, or if you'd like, we can provide copies. Our San Diego police community service officer or one of our committee members will attend your meeting and explain how it works.

If you have questions, please contact us at [SRCANW@scrippsranch.org]. To join SRCANW and receive our neighborhood crime updates via email, go to [www.scrippsranch.org/watch].

Cheryl Shaw, SRCANW Chair

RSVP May Be For You!

If volunteering is in your future plans, RSVP is a good choice. The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP) started in 1994, and it can't be done without you! You are the eyes and ears of the community. RSVP checks on the elderly as part of the You Are Not Alone (YANA) program, keeps an eye on vacation homes, patrols our schools, businesses, and neighborhoods, and notifies police if an incident occurs.

Can you spare 3 days a month? You must have a valid California driver's license, be 50 years or older, retired or semi-retired, go through a background check, and attend a 40-hour training session. Last year we donated a total of 11,413 hours. Since 1994 we've volunteered 166,835 hours! This is an important and vital job for our community.

If you would like to donate to RSVP, we would appreciate any amount to help finance our efforts. Please contact John Sunde, RSVP administrator, at 538-8156 or [jsunde@pd.sandiego.gov] for details.

Also, when you see our volunteers driving around, wave and say "thanks." They would love it!

Pat Clark, RSVP Board Member

Girls on the Run

Sign up now for the spring season of Girls on the Run (GOTR). It's a life-changing, character development program for girls in 3rd-8th grades. Our mission is to prepare girls for a life of self-respect and healthy living.

Girls on the Run combines training for a 5K run--3.1 miles--with healthy living education. We use exercise, positive reinforcement, and encouraging role models to help girls discover the confidence they need in those critical pre-teen years and beyond.

The spring season runs from Monday, Feb. 27, through Thursday, May 24, with the 5K on Sunday, May 13, Mother's Day. We're excited to celebrate all of our GOTR moms and will have surprises for them! Practice is Monday and Wednesday from 4 to 5:15 pm at the Scripps Ranch Community Park. For details and to sign up, go to [www.gotrsd.org] or call Annie Sawyer at 619-813-9020.

In December nine Scripps Ranch girls ages 8-12 participated in the Sparkle and Shine Run at Embarcadero Park as the finale of the fall GOTR season. These girls trained two days a week since September for this 5K run. More than 200 girls from other GOTR chapters throughout San Diego also participated. For most of these girls it was their first time completing such a race and they felt the pride of their accomplishments.

Positive Parenting

Jerabek Elementary School is hosting a five-week Positive Discipline evening course for everyone in our community. The sessions are on Tuesday evenings--Feb. 28-Mar. 27--from 6:30 to 9 pm.

• Early bird registration: $99 per person, $165 per couple through Tuesday, Feb. 14.
• Registration: $119 per person, $185 per couple.

To register, please contact the instructor, Kimberly Taylor, through her website at [www.connectedfamily.org]. You also may contact parent liaison Nancy Mullen at [nz2@ATT.net] for details.

Mission Trails Park to be Accessible to SR Residents

It has been called the "third jewel" in the city of San Diego park system. Along with Balboa Park and Mission Bay, it provides San Diego residents and visitors a way to explore the cultural, historical, and recreational assets of our city, and will be directly accessible to Scripps Ranch residents through StoneBridge Estates. It's Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP), and the Scripps Ranch portion is expected to open in late 2013.

MTRP encompasses nearly 5,800 acres of both natural and developed recreational acres. It has more than 40 miles of trails, camping, numerous guided hikes, and a state-of-the-art Visitor and Interpretive Center. The park provides a quick escape from urban stressors.

As a condition for development of the 10,000 homes in the Rancho Encantado site--now StoneBridge Estates--Corky McMillin agreed to donate 1,528 acres of land to the existing MTRP, with access through StoneBridge Estates.

There will be a staging area that will include a parking lot, hitching posts for equestrians, and shade structure. Donor opportunities will be available. For details, visit [www.mtrp.org] or contact Diane Strum, Ranch resident, MTRB Board member, and Scripps Ranch liaison, at [Dianestrum@earthlink.net].

How Many Concerts Did You Miss in 2011?

The Symphony in the Park Committee wants to send you the complete 2012 concert schedule. All you have to do is request one. Just visit our website at [www.symphonyinthepark.org] and enter your name, address, or email, and we'll send you one once they're printed.

Last year Symphony in the Park launched its Facebook site that has been a popular place to go to see updates and reminders of concerts, ask questions, or just tell us how much fun you have at the concerts! The free concerts start in June and continue once a month throughout the summer at Hoyt Park. Look in the March SRCA Newsletter for more information on our concerts.

This year, as always, promises to be a great season to hear talented, live musicians right here in the Ranch. Our nonprofit organization not only allows us to bring music to the community but, with your support, is able to give back to our local schools to support their music programs. Please visit our website for information on donating. As always we appreciate your ongoing support for this great Scripps Ranch tradition. Thanks!

Symphony in the Park Committee

Thank You, Scripps Ranch, for Supporting Becky's Gift!

Becky's Gift collected more than 750 toys this holiday season and delivered them to UCSD Moores Cancer Center and Sharp Cancer Center to help families being treated for cancer. We want to personally thank our friends, neighbors, families, and our wonderful community for all the donations! We were overwhelmed by everyone's enormous hearts and generosity!

A big thank you to those of you who reached out to help by collecting toys:

• Karen Welch, Girl Scout Troop 6404
• Sherri Mellos, Girl Scout Troop 8634
• Dr. Christopher Maulik, Scripps Poway Orthodontics
• Tricia Barnes and Picture It On Canvas
• Marshall Middle School
• Dingeman Elementary School
• St. Michael's 6th and 8th graders
• San Diego Football Academy Girls Under 11 Soccer Team
• Dr. Larry Pollock
• Scripps South A Tennis Team, Captains Kathy Omsberg and Cindy Hine
• Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club's A Tennis Team
• GU13 Scripps United Red Soccer Team
• GU12 Scripps United White Soccer Team

We could not have done this without all of your support. Keep us in mind for the next holiday season!

Becky Walton and Christie Jackson

From the Heart

"Mending Hearts Together As One" is the motto for two industrious freshman from Scripps Ranch. Katie Mohns, who attends Scripps Ranch High, and Brooklynn Bucky, who attends High Tech High, recently formed Stitched Together, a performing arts outreach. These two girls wanted to impact the community while displaying their passion for singing, dancing, and theater. They did just that before Christmas at the Poway Adult Health Care Center.

Singing Christmas carols and performing an original dance, the girls, along with Kara Pepper, Kendall Norberg, Carolina Mendoza, and Tianna Gebase, brought holiday cheer to the seniors at the center. Also, they were proud to present the center with a $100 donation, for which they fundraised. "It was fun to perform and great to know we blessed them this holiday season," said Katie and Brooklynn.

Stitched Together is planning a canned food drive. If you would be interested in joining the Stitched Together team or hosting the group, please email [StitchedTogetherFoundation@gmail.com].

Find a Pet to Love

On Sunday, Feb. 12, the Animal Rescue Resource Foundation (ARRF), a nonprofit organization, will hold an adoption event from 11 am to 3 pm at Unleashed at Petco, located at 10625 Scripps Poway Parkway. Dogs will be available for adoption; they are all micro-chipped, altered, and up to date on vaccinations. For details, call 619-504-9950 or visit [www.arrf.cc].

Phone Number Correction

In our January Newsletter article on "Who to Call" for city services, an incorrect phone number was given for city trash problems, such as uncollected containers. The Environmental Services Department handles that, and the correct number is 694-7000.