The Moreno Valley Fire Department requests that all toy donations be delivered by December 20th. Any toys collected after this date may not reach a needy child until next Christmas.  

For more information, please call 951.486.6780 or the "Spark of Love Toy Drive" hotline at 951.538.6910.  For eligibility requirements to receive toys for a child in need, please contact the Moreno Valley Community Assistance Program at 951.485.7792.

Police Department - Holiday Cheer Program:

The Moreno Valley Police Department will be hosting its 19th annual Holiday Cheer Program.  Local needy families are invited to a catered holiday party complete with food, gifts, live entertainment, games and other festivities.  In addition, each family will receive a turkey dinner, complete with all the trimmings, courtesy of local grocers.  To be a success, the Moreno Valley Police Department needs the support of businesses, residents and civic leaders like you.

Date:         Friday, December 21, 2012, 

To contribute, please contact the Moreno Valley Police Department's Problem Oriented Policing Team at 951.486.6924.

RCC Culinary Academy:

While Moreno Valley's Kaliesha West is making a name for herself in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) as the three-time and current WBO Bantamweight World Champion and the International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) Junior Featherweight Champion, she's also making her family, friends, and her city proud of her.  At just 24 years old, the Canyon Springs High School graduate models the values of hard work and determination for young female athletes as she has made it her life's goal to open up the world of women's boxing in the United States.  

As she works to improve the economic possibilities for female boxers in the U. S., Kaliesha also works full-time, has gone back to school, and maintains a rigorous daily training schedule to be sure she is ready to win that next fight. Kaliesha also gives back to our community as she served as the 2012 Grand Marshall for the City of Moreno Valley's Fourth of July parade and, most recently, supported the Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce by holding a training exhibition during a Chamber event this last September.  The City of Moreno Valley is proud of this extraordinary young woman.

Moreno Valley Public Library's 2012 Fall Reading Program has begun and runs through Thursday, November 29. The program is open to children from ages 2-13 who have or obtain their own library card. Readers log their reading time and can qualify for prizes. Call or visit the library for more information.

PJ Story Times

The library now presents Pajama Story Times on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. Parents can bring their children, dressed in their PJs, to enjoy stories and music in the Story Time room on any Thursday evening.

Family Literacy Day

The national observance of Family Literacy Day occurred Thursday, November 1. The library marked the occasion by holding a special Pajama Story Time that evening at 6:00 p.m. at the library. Watch for the special display and handouts emphasizing the importance of increasing literacy skills for all members of the family.

The library is located at 25480 Alessandro Blvd. and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit the library web site or call 951.413.3880. "Like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter: @MoValLibrary.

Do you live in a flood hazard zone? To determine if you live in a flood hazard zone, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided online flood hazard zone maps that you can search by address. Click Here for FEMA Flood Hazard Maps, enter your street address and then click on the view button to view the flood hazard map for your area.

Most homeowner's and rental insurance policies do NOT cover flood damage.  However, Moreno Valley residents are eligible to purchase discounted flood insurance because the City is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is an incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

For other FEMA flood facts, please contact Office of Emergency Management at OEM@moval.org or 951.413.3800.

The City of Moreno Valley, Community Energy Partnership and SoCal Gas offer the following tips to promote the safe and efficient operation of your natural gas furnace:

• Have gas furnaces checked at least once a year by a licensed heating contractor, plumber or the Gas Company.
• Vacuum and clean regularly in and around the furnace, particularly around the burner compartment to prevent a build-up of dust and lint.
• Never store items in, on, or around the appliance that can obstruct airflow.
• Most forced-air units have a filter that cleans the air before heating and circulating it throughout the home. The filter should be checked monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use and cleaned or replaced, if necessary.
• When installing a new or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the front panel door of the furnace properly so it fits snugly. Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Check the appearance of the flame. If the flame is yellow, large and unsteady, the furnace needs to be inspected immediately by a licensed heating contractor, plumber or the Gas Company to have the condition corrected.
• Never use ovens, ranges or outdoor barbecues to heat a home because these appliances are not designed for such use and pose a severe and potentially fatal risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if used for space heating.

Click here to learn more about gas appliance and furnace safety.