Category Archives: Eastvale Lifestyle

Lifestyle tips, health and fitness, movie reviews

Forgiving Yourself

By Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

jennifer-Jester-MadrigalThere is a saying that says something about forgiveness being a gift you give yourself. The idea is that once you forgive those who have wronged you, you take that load off your own shoulders and release that poison from yourself.

This is true in so many ways, but never is that load so heavy as when it is your own forgiveness. It’s so much easier to forgive others than it is to forgive yourself. Often we judge ourselves so much harsher than others, and we make ourselves miserable trying to live up to some insane version of how we think we should be.  The truth is, we’re not perfect and we never will be.

Stop trying to be perfect and instead focus on who you are and the progress that you have made. Try and give yourself the same grace and charity that you give to others, and take a step back.

I do this all the time – I judge myself so much more rigidly than others and expect myself to always know better, do better and be better. But, I’m human, I mess up, I say the wrong things, do the wrong things, etc.  These things don’t make me bad and they don’t define who I am.  They are just mistakes.

Last year, I made some major life changes and decided to get real with myself. I was tired of making excuses and feeling guilty about poor choices I’ve made, and instead I took action. I forgave all those who wronged me, even if they never apologized. I set myself free from the burden of trying to make everyone else happy, and instead focused on just being a better person for myself and my kids.

The struggle to forgive myself has always been within me, and setting achievable goals has been a hard step to take. But, it’s working. I know in God’s eyes I’m amazing, and that He sees me for what I really am even when I am unable to. He sees the struggles, the heartache and all the good intentions. Most importantly, He has forgiven me.  If He can, who I am to say I am greater than He is and not do the same?

That’s the thing about mistakes and bad choices, they are so easy to do; but it’s also easy to convince yourself that you are somehow not worthy of forgiveness.

So finally, after years of hurting and setting unreasonable expectations for myself, I finally have made peace within. I gave myself the same grace that I give others, and I let it all go.

Forgiveness is truly the best gift that I have ever given or received, and it turns out I had the power inside me all along.

 

One Year Of Love

By Michael Armijo

There’s a song by Queen called, “One Year of Love,” that brings me peace. The lyrics say, “Just one year of love is better than a lifetime alone.”

I’ve chosen to apply this song and this philosophy to my life and to the passing of my friends.  At times, I have chosen to sulk and miss those who were close to me, but are now gone.  Now, I reflect on how lucky I am to have had many years of love, instead of “a lifetime alone.” I am very fortunate to have such beautiful memories when others have none.

Today marks the anniversary of the death of one of my closest and most loving friends. I can cry about missing our past, or I can remember how fortunate I am to have had so many years of love and friendship. I choose the latter.

It’s during these trying times that our abilities and our philosophies are tested. I believe that how we spend these times of pain and reflection is a testament to how appreciative we are for that love and friendship. I also believe if we do sulk and wallow in pain, then we are, in a way, insulting that friendship. We are ignoring that love. The people that we love throughout our lives are placed there for a reason. We are fortunate to have such experiences and wonderful memories.

So today, I will not insult the love I received from these individuals. Today, I will appreciate that I was fortunate enough to have such valuable and priceless relationships given to me. It’s just like giving a gift to someone.  When you receive a gift, like a jacket or a warm scarf, you wear it and it comforts you when you’re cold and alone. You have that feeling of warmth and memory of their thoughtfulness with you. When that person is no longer in your life, do you throw out that jacket or scarf? Or do you keep wearing it and using it for as long as you can?

My friendships and loving memories should be the same.  I will not discard them and throw them out by being hurt and feeling sad. I will not sulk and wallow in selfishness. I will not abandon those wonderful and priceless times that enhanced my life and contributed to the success that I worked so hard to achieve and deserve. I will remember those precious gifts that were given to me and I will continue to wear them to warm my heart and comfort me during cold and lonely times.

So, today I smile. Today I enjoy. Today I remember and cherish those wonderful gifts of friendship that were given to me. And I will be thankful that I will, once again, have “one more year of love.”

Ten Things They Don’t Tell You About Marriage

By Sarah Sanchez

I married my best friend this past June, and I believe I’ve settled into the routine of my new married life.  I can look back over the last year and honestly say that no one prepared me and my husband for marriage. Even though we took a pre-marital course and were given advice from family and friends, there are still things that no one told us about.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my husband and I love our marriage. This is not a complaining session, but an informative piece. If I had been given this list before the wedding, I don’t think I would have been so shocked with the changes. So pass this along to any engaged or newly married couples you may know, and you’ll save them a few surprises.

#10 – Develop And Maintain Certain Household Roles:  My husband and I see marriage in the old fashioned way, so I went into this union expecting to be ‘wife of the year’ by doing all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. And whether he knew it or not, I expected my husband to do the dirty work (i.e. taking out the trash, cleaning the patio, killing any and all insects inside the house, etc.). In the first year of marriage, you will discover what your roles are and you will learn what to expect of each other. The nice part of this is that if either of us switches roles for a day – I come home to a clean house, or he comes home to a clean patio (bug-free!) – it becomes a nice treat.

#9 – Practice Makes Perfect When Learning Your Role:  So, after burning and cutting almost every finger, getting bleach spots on clothes, shrinking my husband’s t-shirts, and forgetting to dust the house, I can now say I finally got used to my wife-role. Whoever is in charge of maintaining the house in your relationship, try to learn all of this before you get married. Trust me. I have the battle wounds to prove it.

#8 — Beware Of Becoming Your Parents: Parents tend to have certain habits that were easy to complain about. Well, beware, because you will find yourself executing those same habits without even realizing it. I got the chills the day I started banging all the pots as I was cleaning the kitchen, the same way my mom used to late at night when we were trying to go to sleep. And the day I uttered my dad’s famous answer to everything, “I’ll make it work,” was the day I realized I was becoming my parents. We grew up watching their habits and hearing their phrases, so naturally, we will repeat them. If you would rather avoid this, then just be aware of your actions throughout your marriage and remember to take your parents’ good habits and leave the bad ones.

#7 – Communication And Compromise Are Key:  Marriage is about becoming one unit, and this “all for one, one for all” mentality can be a little tough to get used to. You will be making sacrifices throughout your marriage, mainly because it’s not just about you anymore; it’s all about the “we”. You are a team now and you need to constantly be on the same page. But if you communicate and compromise with one another, then both of you can be happy with the decisions that are made.

#6 – You Will Become One; But So Does Your Bank Account:  If you and your spouse put all your money into a joint bank account, all of it now belongs to both of you and you have to learn to budget EVERYTHING. This can be tough because budgeting your money makes you realize how much you need to cut down on going out to eat, and how much groceries and gasoline really cost.  My suggestion is to print out a budget sheet online, fill it out every month, and – oddly enough – actually follow it by writing down every expense you make every single day. Dave Ramsey has an awesome book and class you can take that will benefit you as well.               

#5 – Men And Women Are Wired Differently:  This particular point actually became quite clear to us after reading a daily devotional called, “The Love and Respect Experience,” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. We learned that men and women are very different in almost every aspect: emotionally, physically, sexually, etc. As expressed in the book, a way to look at it is that women wear pink glasses and hearing aids, and men wear blue glasses and hearing aids. When you are in a disagreement, men occasionally need to put on the pink glasses and hearing aids, and women occasionally have to put on the blue glasses and hearing aids, in order to understand how the other is feeling.  Sometimes it’s just about perspective.

#4 — When You Say ‘I Do’, You Marry The Family Too: When you get married, it’s a package deal, meaning the in-laws come along with the spouse. Therefore, it’s better to put your differences aside and try to be civil with one another.  A trick my husband and I use is that we confront our own families, and not our in-laws. For example, if the problem is with my side of the family, then I will be the one to confront the family member. But if the problem is with my husband’s side of the family, then he will be the one to confront the family member. That way, the relationships with our in-laws aren’t jeopardized with the confrontation. The bottom line is to try to find a way to keep the peace and don’t let the little things bother you. Also, remember that every family is different, so the way your in-laws act may be very different than the way you grew up. It’s not wrong, just different; keep that in mind.

#3 – Pick Your Battles:  There is a difference between a disagreement and a fight. From my experience, disagreements are more about bickering, while fights are the escalated form of a disagreement that usually includes some form of yelling at each other; perhaps a slammed door or two. My advice is to pick your battles, otherwise you’ll fight about the most ridiculous things. Our first fight as a married couple was about boxes.  No underlying issues.  Just boxes.  Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and there will be conflicts in your marriage; so aim for disagreements, not fights.

#2 – Learn to Embrace Your Spouse’s Differences:  You have to remember that you are two very different people who grew up in very different homes. There are certain habits, flaws, and pet peeves your spouse will have that may be very different from what you are used to.  As long as their habits aren’t hurting anyone, life will be much easier for you if you learn to accept your spouse’s differences instead of trying to change them.  You know how hard it is to change your own behavior, even when you want to.  The pressure increases significantly when someone else wants you to change a behavior that you’d rather not.  Refer to #3.

#1 – Your Spouse Is Not – And Will Never Be – The Same Person You Married:  This is the number one thing that they don’t tell you about marriage. It sounds bad, but it doesn’t have to be.  One of the most common reasons people get divorced is because their spouse is “not the same person they married”. Every relationship has phases.  For example, you start with the person you date (on best behavior); then comes the person you’re engaged to (you still know the person, but the façade starts to crack a bit); and finally, you end up with the person you marry (where, oh where, is my fiancé?).  So if you go into the marriage knowing there will be changes, your expectations will be better balanced.   I’ve only been married to my husband for eight months, and I can honestly say we both have already changed since the day we got married. I learn new things about him every day, even with dating him for four years prior. He has new dreams, new goals, and new personality traits I’ve never seen before. He’s noticed the same in me, too, and that’s okay, because we married each other for who we were to become, not the people we were at that moment.  You can be very different, and still grow together, which is the goal anyway.

Marriage is an amazing experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Yes, by the list above, it is tough and there is a lot of learning you have to do. But once you get it down, it’s so wonderful to have someone who cares for you, who loves you, who supports you, and is there by your side through all of life’s adventures.  For better or worse… “The best is yet to be, come marry me.”

Eastvale: Rocks and Rubies

By Jennifer Jester-Madrigal

 

eastvale-rocks-and-rubies

Children from Rosarito, Mexico express their gratitude to Eastvale sponsors. (Photo Courtesy: Mikie Gettel De Vergara)

The following incidents are shared by members of our community, and are anonymous acknowledgments to the great (and not so great) things that happen around town.

RUBIES to the more than 20 Eastvalians who sponsored children from Rosarito, Mexico; your gifts and love were delivered!

RUBIES to our wonderful Mayor and his Santa Clause connection for making my boys feel so comfortable and happy during such a rough time!

RUBIES to the nice lady who paid for our entire Jack-in-the-Box order; it helped me more than you will ever know.

RUBIES to all the teachers that go the extra mile every day for our kids who need a little extra attention; we notice!

ROCKS to the people that still continue to speed and almost took me and my daughter out on the corner of Harrison and Citrus!

ROCKS to the thieves that steal Christmas decorations.  Really? That’s not the spirit!

ROCKS to the man who posted that the creep exposing himself on the Riverwalk Trail was just engaging in a crime against “prudish nature”!  Get a clue, man!!!

 

 

Eastvale Kiwanis Host Donation Drive

City of Eastvale
goodwillfundraiserPosted Date: 1/3/2015 12:30 PM

If you are cleaning out your closets after the holidays, this is a great opportunity to help provide scholarships to Eastvale students…

Eastvale Kiwanis Club has partnered with Goodwill Southern California to raise funds, as well as support Goodwill’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities or other disadvantages through education, training and job placement services. That’s good for everyone!

Help raise funds by donating gently used clothing, accessories, electronics, e-media, household items and more.

Please drop-off your donations from now until January 11th. Donations can be placed next to the wooden bench at the Bootsma Ranch, 14560 Schleisman Rd or for pick-up please call: 951-264-4739.

You Think We Don’t Notice

By Sarah Sanchez

 

I’m a small group leader for our church’s high school ministry, and the most common prayer request is for my students’ parents. The students I have are very aware of their parents’ problems (whether the parents know it or not), because the requests range from “my parents are fighting,” or “my parents are struggling with money,” to “my parents might be getting a divorce soon”.

One girl in particular asked us to pray for her relationship with her dad.  She said she wanted to build a relationship with him, but his actions made it seem like he had no interest in doing so. She went on to say that every time she and her brothers hung out with him, she would notice her dad daze off as they talked, glance over at his phone, or start talking about what’s going on in his own life, with no interest in them. In addition, she said that the previous weekend when he was supposed to take them out, he came up with an excuse to get out of it. Then she said, “He thinks we don’t notice”.

This particular statement stuck with me, basically, because it’s true. Parents often live by the “do as I say, not as I do” principle. Yet children look up to their parents as role models, mimicking their actions, no matter what age they are. Whether we are children or adults with our own children, we’ll always look to what we’re familiar with: what our parents used to do. However, the main problem children are facing is that parents aren’t LIVING the way children should mimic.

So the question is, what are you parents going to do about it?

Speaking on behalf of your children, we understand you’re not perfect. We don’t expect you to be. But what we’re looking for are the values and morals you LIVE by, and the way you treat yourself and others. It’s the basics; because in our eyes, you’ll always be our heroes. We’ll always admire you and look up to you no matter what.  But please do us a favor, and have your actions speak louder than your words.

My student’s dad told her and her brothers that he wanted to build a relationship with them, but his actions said otherwise. Those little things can change a child’s whole perspective. Those eye rolls, dazes when we talk, whispering in the next room, mocking the in-laws, loud yelling and disrespecting during fights, cursing another driver, drinking after a fight or a long day; these are all actions you’re teaching us to mimic.

And you think we don’t notice…but we always do.

 

Welcome 2015: New Year, New You!

By K.P. Sander

fruits-and-vegetables          SGV – The countdown for the New Year has come and gone. Did you make that annual resolution – again – to get in the best shape of your life? Is this the year you are really going to become healthy (lose weight, look younger, be happier)?

It’s no mystery that there is some happiness associated with looking and feeling better. When you are full of vim and vigor, there is a spring in your step and you actually have the energy and drive to accomplish more at home, work and play. And, there’s not a darn thing wrong with feeling good about yourself.

Statistics show that not everyone is equipped to go cold turkey and completely transform their lives with a drastic change in eating and exercise habits; sometimes the most successful results in becoming healthy appear by just making a few changes.

What if you added ten foods that had amazing health benefits to your diet instead of eliminating every single thing you found delicious? What if you vowed to stop eating just one food per month that you knew was damaging (like, if it dyes your fingers orange, what is it doing to your insides…just sayin’)? At the end of the year, that’s 22 choices you’ve made to become healthier.

Rather than train for a marathon – unless you are totally up for it – what if you promised to walk three times each week, for 30 minutes, no matter what? With each season change you could add one more day of something fun, like biking, skating, weight training or a dance class to keep things interesting.

To help get you started, these are the ten healthiest foods on the planet, according to Fitness Magazine:

  1. Lemons – Just one has more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements, and flavonoids that help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and reduce inflammation. Squeeze one into a cup of hot water daily, and help your liver do its job better.
  2. Broccoli – Beautiful broccoli helps give cancer the boot, with one stalk containing more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirements, and nearly 200 percent of the recommended vitamin C.
  3. Dark Chocolate – ¼ ounce daily can help to reduce blood pressure, and cocoa power is rich in antioxidants shown to help reduce bad LDL cholesterol levels. No, a Snickers bar doesn’t count.
  4. Potatoes – One red potato contains enough cell-building folate as a cup of spinach or broccoli. A sweet potato has eight times the amount of cancer-fighting vitamin A that you need daily. Try to skip the butter and sour cream; it sort of defeats the purpose.
  5. Salmon – Wild, Alaskan fish from pristine cold waters can help to fight depression, heart disease and cancer, and with strong components of niacin it can help fight Alzheimer’s and memory loss.
  6. Walnuts – Delicious walnuts contain more omega-3 fatty acids than any other nut, which have been shown to fight cancer and improve moods. It’s not a coincidence that these little gems look like a brain.
  7. Avocados – This healthy fat can lower cholesterol by 22 percent, and has nearly half the fiber and folate requirements you need each day.
  8. Garlic – This powerful disease fighter can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli, and has properties that work as an anti-inflammatory to help lower cholesterol and blood-pressure.
  9. Spinach – This cancer-fighting power house contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two immune-boosting antioxidants important for eye health.
  10. Beans – Eating legumes four times per week is said to lower your risk for heart disease by as much as 22 percent.

All these foods can become a delicious part of your nutrition plan, and help to improve your health. Throw them all into a salad with a lemon vinaigrette and a square of dark chocolate for dessert, and you might be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, or just feel pretty good about yourself. As a bonus, drink a lot of pure, clean water, eat organic produce whenever possible, and get your heart rate up on a regular basis. This will definitely help make for a new year, new you. Cheers!

Did You Know?

By K.P. Sander

 

Did You Know   Hanukkah – or the Festival of Lights – is an eight day Jewish celebration that is signified by the successive kindling of eight lights.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C., after its desecration.  According to Bible references, Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, erected an altar to the Greek god, Zeus, on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, offering up swine upon it.  This act intensified the Jewish resistance, which led to revolt.  Once they reclaimed Jerusalem, the Temple was cleansed and rededicated.

Hanukkah is observed beginning on the 25th day of Kislev – an autumn month on the Hebrew calendar – which occurs annually any time from late November to late December.

Many traditions surround Hanukkah.  The most widely recognized is the lighting of a menorah, typically consisting of a candelabrum with eight individual branches, and a Shamash – or extra light above or below the branches used for practical lighting.  According to Wikipedia, using the actual Hanukkah lights for purposes other than publicizing and meditating on the Festival is forbidden.

Other Hanukkah traditions include playing a top game called Dreidel, and eating oil-based or fried foods (such as donuts and latkes) as a symbol of the ancient miracle which centered around oil, with one flame lasting eight days.

This year, Hanukkah will begin at sunset on Dec. 16, and continue to nightfall on Dec. 24.

 

 

For The Love Of Carter

By Carissa Herb

Jerry-and-carter-davis

Carter and his Papa, Jerry Davis (Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Eastvale – As a child, the last thing on your mind are the troubles that will follow you as you start to age. For young Carter Forsyth – who is one of 50,000 U.S. children suffering from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) – this is a problem that he is facing daily. However, Carter, 4, is making a difference with the help of his grandfather, Jerry Davis, and other sympathetic family members.

JIA is an autoimmune, inflammatory joint disease that presents with varying degrees of pain, swelling, stiffness, lethargy and a reduction or loss of mobility. Growth retardation is common in children with JIA, and this symptom is often exacerbated with medications typically used to treat the disease. Muscle weakness or loss, and osteoporosis are also possible conditions associated with JIA.

Earlier this year on Sept. 13, Carter’s grandfather – or as he likes to call him, Papa – participated in a 525 mile bike ride down California’s coast. During the 12 weeks of riding, Davis managed to raise $13,000 to be donated to the Arthritis Foundation. Davis has already begun to prepare for next year’s big ride, and plans on raising $40,000 – all of which will be donated to the Arthritis Foundation to further the search for a cure.

And yet the ride is about much more than the money. Davis reflected on his experience training for the ride and touches on a moment that struck home for him.

On an extraneous day of riding, Davis mentioned that he was tempted to discontinue his participation in the ride, until he saw his son, J.T.’s, initials on the side of an old barn. J.T. was Davis’ son who had passed away recently, and the initials gave him the strength to continue on for both J.T. and Carter.

Presently Carter has started a new medication, and it seems to be helping with the pain and the progression of the arthritis. He also spends his Friday mornings having breakfast with his Papa.

Carter has to have his usual pancakes with eggs and hash browns. He brags about his favorite restaurant on Mars called the Space Rover. He promises that the next time he goes to Mars he will bring his grandfather with him so that they can hang out.

Carter’s family has continued to raise money to donate to the Foundation. Most recently, one of his cousins asked for donations to the Foundation instead of presents for her birthday.

To learn more about Team Carter and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, check out their Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/525miles4carter.

 

Eastvale: Rocks and Rubies

By Jennifer Madrigal

Eastvale – The following incidents are shared by members of our community, and are anonymous acknowledgments to the great (and no so great) things that happen around town.

  • RUBIES to the nice lady in the SUV in the drive-thru at Starbucks who bought my quadruple shot Frappe and told the cashier to wish me Happy Holidays. Wow! You inspired me to do the same for the person behind me.
  • RUBIES to the amazing Robert the Window Guy, who fixed my window at a very reasonable cost. He also gave my daughter a mirror and brought us a couch to replace the old tattered one we had. I love our Community!
  • RUBIES to Lydia Kray! She recently threw a Shrimp Boil Fundraiser for 75 people at her house in Eastvale for a little 8-year old boy with terminal cancer. She is also a mentor for teens through Inspire Life Skills, which is a program for foster kids that have aged out of foster care; as well as a volunteer for a new company that provides an ICU Mobile Clinic for the underprivileged. Please recognize her. She deserves it!
  • RUBIES to Coach Hector Chavez, who always gives us rides, runs with us, buys us hamburgers after our races, and puts up with a van full of super stinky boys after a race.
  • ROCKS to the people who STILL speed down Hamner Avenue, practically taking out kids walking to school, all while putting their make-up on and throwing trash out of the window.
  • ROCKS to the criminal who stole the package off my front porch! Hope you enjoy all the gauze and first aid products. Sorry it wasn’t the new iPhone 6, but hey, save it for Halloween and you can go as a Mummy!
  • ROCKS to the neighbor who called the Sheriff to claim we had our camper out for a week. It was there for one day so we could pack it up for Thanksgiving! I’m sure you and your non-compliant fence and the old beater car that sits and never moves are in COMPLETE compliance.

 

We Accept the Love We Think We Deserve

BY JENNIFER JESTER-MADRIGAL

jennifer-Jester-MadrigalShow me what you think you are, and I’ll show you what you actually are, and then you can decide which version of yourself is the one you wish to portray to the world.

How many of us have had this conversation with ourselves time and time again only to come to the same conclusion each time? I don’t deserve “this” or I don’t deserve “that” because of something I have done, or simply because I am not enough. It’s amazing the power your thoughts can have over your entire life, often drastically altering your own path.

I was lucky in that I grew up in a loving home, with loving parents and great examples of what family, love and friendship look like. My father loved my mother and she loved him, and we were kissed and hugged and smothered with attention as well. We had the suburban upbringing: two kids and a dog – sans the picket fence (ours was a block wall) – and a neighborhood full of friends to play with until the street lights came on and we rushed our dirty hands and tousled hair back to our happy homes.

But somewhere along the transition from jubilant child to responsible adult, I stopped seeing myself as “deserving” of the love I had witnessed growing up. I let my own guilt and apathy for others override my own right to be loved as deeply and sincerely as I once was.

As a woman and a mother I began to believe that everyone else came first, and while I still think this is a great philosophy to live by, it’s not exactly correct. If you put the needs of others in front of your own, you can avoid becoming a selfish person, but there has to be a line drawn at some point. You are in charge of that line, and the power that comes with that is profound.

Loving another does not mean that you do it at the expense of your own soul. If you are a follower of Christ, then any love that takes you away from His path is at the expense of your own soul. Loving another shouldn’t hurt. While there is often emotional pain involved in loving another person, that love should not cause your heart to constantly ache. True love builds you up and makes you a greater version of yourself; it does not tear you down with ugly words and forgotten promises. Loving another means you let them be “themselves” even if that “self” isn’t what you completely understand. The greatest gift you can give another is to allow them to be who they are, and accept them with all their craziness, all their insecurities, and all their unique imperfections.

The strange thing is that when you turn these gifts around and apply them to yourself, you realize that until you can love yourself in this same way, you really can’t truly love another. What we think we deserve – consciously or unconsciously – we accept. It is only when we change our own perceptions and really start loving ourselves in that same selfless way that we can demand the love we know we deserve. Life is too short to settle; so don’t.

 

Did You Know?

BY K.P. SANDER

abraham-lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

On Thurs., Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered what is perhaps one of the most famous speeches in American history. Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, just months after the Union army defeated the Confederacy on the fields in that same town in what resulted in the largest number of casualties in the entire Civil War.

In a mere two minutes, Lincoln articulated on the struggles of the war and the great sacrifices that had been made, but he also reminded his audience of the principles of human equality that were handed down by the Declaration of Independence 87 years prior at the start of the American Revolution.

Generations of school children have learned about – if not memorized – the Gettysburg Address, and it remains one of the greatest congregations of words that the ever-profound President Lincoln shared with the world. It bears rereading again and again.

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

 

Corona: Home For The Holidays Pet Adoption

STAFF REPORTS

Corona-animal-shelter-pet-adoption   Corona – The City of Corona’s Animal Shelter has teamed with thousands of animal organizations from around the world to participate in an annual pet adoption drive called Home for the Holidays.

The Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive began with a growing concern for the number of rescue facilities closing their doors during the holiday seasons. In seeking the perfect holiday gift, would-be adopters were forced to resort to pet stores or puppy mills. Additionally, pet store staffers, untrained to assess the likelihood of a successful animal/family match, contributed to an increased number of pets sent to shelters once the season was over. The Home for the Holidays campaign asks shelter facilities to keep their doors open and get the word out. The program has grown into the largest pet adoption drive in the world and is credited with saving over 9.3 million pets across the globe since its inception in 1999.

The Corona Animal Shelter will hold two very special adoption events. During the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, November 24, 25, 26, and 29th, the Corona Animal Shelter will celebrate its first event, “Black Friday Week”. The $15 adoption fee will be waived for any animal with any black coloring or markings. Normal Spay and Neuter and Licensing fees still apply. Information for the second event scheduled during the month of December will be released at a later time.

For more information, call (951) 736-2309, or visit the Corona Animal Shelter at 608 Harrington Street in Corona. The Shelter will be closed November 27-28, 2014.

 

Eastvale: Make Your Garden California Friendly – Workshop

 STAFF REPORTS

Eastvale – In light of the significant drought that California is experiencing, this upcoming workshop might be the perfect opportunity for you to learn how to turn your garden into an eco-friendly showcase.

This class was previously offered in May, and is back by popular demand. Learn six new ways to update your garden to California’s current needs. The workshop will cover using a holistic approach to gardening, building a living soil sponge, rethinking the elements of your site, putting the right plants in the right places, using rainwater as a resource, and managing irrigation.

Saturday, November 15

            9 a.m. to 12 noon

            Eastvale Community Center

13820 Schleisman Road, Eastvale

 

RSVPs are required. To secure your spot at this fun and interesting workshop, contact the JCSD Conservation Coordinator at (951) 727-8007, or email aloukeh@jcsd.us.

 

Awesome Alethea

BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

eastvale-news-lifestyle

Heartbroken but hopeful newlyweds, Alethea and Michael. (Photo Courtesy: Jill Run Photography)

Back in the day of dial-up Internet and Paula Abdul dance rehearsals on the playground, we met a girl with glasses and curly hair who lived with her brother and grandparents on the furthest street in the neighborhood. She always had her nose buried in a book. Her vocabulary was ostentatious and her personality, vibrant.

Alethea, which I remember thinking was quite the mouthful of a name, joined our little group one summer and things were never the same. We added another character to our little group of pubescent girls who said “like” way too much, and wore double-tongued Reeboks with our stacked socks.

Allie, as we called her, was a bundle of life and nothing about her was the same as we were. She was more animated, more intelligent, wittier, and definitely sassier than any of us, but we loved hanging out with her.

As life tends to go on and people grow apart, friends change, and soon Allie was just another face at school I’d casually say hello to. We remained in contact through Facebook and kept in touch over the years.

Fast forward to a few months ago when I opened my page to see that Allie’s previous fight with skin cancer had returned with multiple tumors which had spread throughout her body. Within weeks her life went from happy to tragic as the realization came way too soon that the twilight of her life was coming far sooner than it should.

So what did Allie do? She chose to live, and live abundantly. She traveled, spent time with her love, Michael, and got engaged. Doctors tried new treatments which bought her some time, but ultimately, the cancer came back even more aggressively and she is now on Hospice.

Michael, heartbroken, reached out in hopes of being able to marry Allie and spend the last moments of her life as her husband. Hundreds of friends – both far and near – came together to throw Alethea and Michael a wedding, so he could marry the love of his life.

The wedding was streamed live, and many of us that couldn’t make it to Portland watched from our homes. I watched Allie give this man the last bits of her young life, and watched Michael swear his love to her. ‘Till death do them part’ never meant so much.

Our Alethea – who we played in the streets of Chino Hills with, whose house we played at, and who we shared great memories with – has touched so many lives. As the end of her life draws nearer, she is LIVING; she is LOVING; and she is showing us all the power of that love.

I’ve always known that a deep and true love is one of the greatest gifts one can receive. If that love finds you when you are young and vibrant, or old and gray, it’s a miracle that it found you at all.

A love like Alethea and Michael’s is rare and should be celebrated and admired. For all who have witnessed it firsthand and from afar, we are changed by it. I share this with you to remind you to take the time to cherish the love in your life.

Say a prayer for my sweet friend, Alethea, and her husband, Michael, as she begins her transition from this world into the beautiful butterfly she will become.

 

Eastvale: Inaugural ERHS Baseball Boosters Golf Classic

By ERHS Mustang Baseball Booster

 

ERHS-2014-golf-classicDon’t miss out on the ERHS Mustang Baseball Booster INAUGURAL BASEBALL GOLF CLASSIC. With the Inaugural Golf Classic, the boosters hope to establish a new tradition for their Baseball Program!
Date: 11/10/2014 11:00 AM
Cost: $35 – $550
Location: The Golf Club at Glen Ivy Trilogy
24400 Trilogy Parkway
Corona, California 92883

The tournament will conclude with dinner, awards and raffle prizes. All proceeds from this event will go to the continued enrichment, improvement, and modernization of the Mustang Baseball Program.

We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Mail Registration Form and and Check To:
ERHS Mustang Baseball Booster
12672 Limonite Avenue
Suite 3E-404
Eaetvale, CA 92880

For More Information. Contact: Anna Macias at (562) 400-2325 or shania1988@aol.com
Click here for details and to download the tournament registration form.

Eastvale: Rocks And Rubies

BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

The following incidents are shared by members of our community, and are anonymous:

  • RUBIES to the entire community for coming together to raise money after the tragic deaths of the four young men from Eastvale.
  • RUBIES to the people who get into the spirit and decorate their houses for Halloween! My son and I love seeing all the pumpkins and ghosts!
  • RUBIES to the nice man who found and went out of his way to return my cell phone. You made my day! Eastvale Rocks!
  • RUBIES to Auto Zone in Eastvale. My brake light is all fixed and looks great. Always so helpful!
  • RUBIES to Vanity Fur Mobile Pet Groomer, Ashlyn, for making my dog look magnificent! You always do such a great job on her.
  • ROCKS to the people who felt like stealing material from my husband’s work truck. Thanks a lot! Not how we wanted to wake up that morning!
  • ROCKS to the person who came into my backyard and stole my bagged up recyclables! Really???
  • ROCKS to the people who, even after we have lost so many people this year in auto accidents, still continue to speed down our streets!
  • ROCKS to the people who keep speeding around the corners by Cedar Creek Park and crashing head on into the curbs, and then drive off (whether the car is able or not!). One of these days you will involve someone else in your accidents and it won’t be pretty.

Did You Know?

BY K.P. SANDER

bloodyskeletonHalloween, or All Hallows Eve, is a day of celebration for many countries, held on October 31 each year and dedicated to remembering the dearly departed. While many honor it at face value, it is more commonly known as an opportunity for children to don costumes and collect candy.

Interestingly enough, trick-or-treating has an origin that dates far back into history.

William Shakespeare spoke of it in The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1593, in a passage that mentions ‘whimpering like a beggar at Hallowmas’. Great Britain records the custom of poor people going door to door to receive food in exchange for saying prayers for the dead, called “Souling”. “Guising,” or visiting homes masquerading in disguise to be rewarded with cakes, fruit or money, was a Scottish tradition as far back as 1895. Similar guising in North America is first noted in 1911, when Ontario, Canada reported children masquerading throughout neighborhoods.

Nowadays, typical activities include the popular trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, visiting haunted house attractions, attending parties, and watching scary movies. In many parts of the world, Christian religious observances still include attending church service and lighting candles on the graves of the dead.

Whatever your tradition, enjoy a Happy Halloween!

Eastvale Community Garden Makes Progress

BY JENNIFER MADRIGAL

Eastvale – On the corner of Hellman Avenue and Chandler Street there is a parcel of land that sits vacant and unused. For years, people have driven past it and hoped that it would become something a little sightlier.

Councilmember Bill Link had just the right idea for what to do with it when he noticed a post on Facebook from a few Eastvale citizens expressing a desire for a Community Garden. Link responded right away and began to formulate a committee. After searching a few spots, the team decided to try and acquire this spot and make it into Eastvale’s first Community Garden.

Acting City Manager, Robert Van Nort, recently met with the Orange County Flood Control District (who technically owns the land) and the Army Corp of Engineers regarding the property. The next step will be to see how Eastvale can somehow acquire the lot.

“Of course we know that Orange County won’t just give us the property, but we are waiting to see whether we are able to lease or purchase the parcel, as it has great value to us and little value to Orange County,” said Link.

The possibility of something unattractive and neglected turning into a place of beauty and value has caught the attention of several interested parties. The Eastvale Garden Club – who gets together to exchange plants and gardening ideas – and a few other passionate folks, met with Link to discuss planning. After scouting a few places, the club is excited to see what comes of this “little idea”.

Members of the Eastvale Community Garden Committee hope to see this garden come to fruition in the next year. Committee member, Penny Hanstad, hopes that “the garden will be an asset to everyone in this community.”

Norco: Family Fun at the Country Harvest Fair

The family fun just keeps on keepin on in Norco! The Country Harvest Fair will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 10am to 4pm. Event will be held at the Norco Community Center, 3900 Acacia Av, Norco. Country-Harvest-Fair-Norco-2014