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RSM Messenger
March 2015
In This Issue
City Manager's Message
Community Center Improvements
Summer Camps Preview
Daylight Saving Time Reminder
Try It Before You Buy It
Proper Flag Disposal
Home Fire Prevention
Pet Vaccination Clinic
March Recreation Highlights
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RSM City Council

Mayor

Brad McGirr

 

Mayor Pro Tempore

Tony Beall


 
Council Members
Carol Gamble

Jerry Holloway

Mike Vaughn 

  Quick Links
City Council Meetings
Held on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 
22112 El Paseo
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  
Community Living Magazine  

Register Now

for Recreation Classes

at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center


City Manager's Message

 

Springtime is traditionally a time to clean, renew and refresh.  Residents and visitors to Rancho Santa Margarita will notice various projects throughout the City as we work together with community organizations to "spruce up" our city this spring.  We look forward to the installation of a monument and extensive landscape improvements at the Alicia "T" entrance to RSM,  roadway median beautification and xeriscaping projects, and other infrastructure improvements. Additionally, renovations are planned at the lake by SAMLARC, and ZeroTrash RSM meets on the first Saturday of each month to remove litter, stickers, and graffiti throughout the community.    


Your feedback is important to us; if you see a need for an area in the City that could use a little spring cleaning, please utilize our website, which features easy-to-use tools available for that purpose. If you have a request or feedback to share, the RSM Community Connection can be used to send your correspondence directly to staff members who can help.  

 

 

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Cervantez  

 

Community Center Spring Makeover Completed

                

The Bell Tower Regional Community Center has undergone a transformation this spring, with new carpet installation throughout the facility.  This fresh new look makes it a perfect venue for weddings, fundraising galas, Quinceneras and more.  The center also has conference and meeting rooms of various sizes that can accommodate birthday parties, wedding and baby showers, board meetings and conferences and various other social and business gatherings of all sizes.

 

Antique wooden doors welcome guests into a private walkway decorated with stone bricks and a picturesque water fountain. The vaulted sky-lit atrium and floor to ceiling windows bring a beautiful natural light into each room. Towering palm trees, blooming bougainvillea in terracotta pots, and the backdrop of the Saddleback Mountains make the Bell Tower Regional Community Center an ideal location for your next special event.

  

Visit our website for more information on facility rental opportunites at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.  
 
Summer Camps at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center
Early Registration Begins April 1st
  
Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. Learning and exploring doesn't have to stop when the school year ends. Rancho Santa Margarita has over 20 fun-filled specialty camps to keep your child active this summer.

Children ages 1 1/2 through 17 years old can experience dance, art, music, engineering, film making, science, cooking, skateboarding, photography, magic, and more!

Summer camps are popular and fill up fast. Check out our Summer Camps Preview to assist in planning summer activities and ensure a spot for your child. Registration can be done online through the City's online class registration system, in person at the Community Center, or by mail. For more information, visit the city's website at www.cityofrsm.org or call Community Services at (949) 216-9700.

                   
Change Your Clock, Check Your Batteries
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 8
 
The Orange County Fire Authority reminds us to check our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when we change our clocks. Make a habit of  changing batteries while changing clocks to ensure properly functioning devices throughout your home.  As a reminder, used batteries should not be disposed of in your regular trash.  The City of Rancho Santa Margarita offers a receptacle for safe battery disposal at the Civic Center, located at 22112 El Paseo during regular business hours.
For information about OCFA's smoke alarm program, visit www.ocfa.org.
                
  

Try Something New This Spring For Free

"Try It Before You Buy It" Is Back!

 

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita's Community Services Department is once again offering its "Try It Before You Buy It" program, which allows participants to sample a class and pay for the series if they wish to continue.

       

Class dates and times vary; for a complete listing of classes, which range from Princess Ballet, Karate, digital publishing, and fitness classes including yoga and Zumba, visit our website or contact the Community Services Department at (949) 216-9700.

 

 

 

United States Flag Disposal Site Available in RSM                   

 

Retire damaged and faded American flags by utilizing the U.S. flag retirement box located at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. The box (pictured left) is located in the lobby, located at 22232 El Paseo.The flags will be collected on a regular basis and disposed of properly.

 

The box was provided to the community by RSM Eagle Scout Candidate Parker Clements, and provides a dignified and appropriate way for flags that are tattered, torn, or otherwise in need of disposal to be stored.

 

For more information, call the Bell Tower Regional Community Center at (949) 216-9700.

 

 

Home Fire Prevention

Smoke Detectors Save Lives 

 

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

 

  • 3 out of 5 home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.
  • More than 1/3 (37 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
  • The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

Here are 3 simple steps to keep your home safe from fire:

 

1.  Install and maintain smoke detectors:

  • Ensure there is one smoke alarm on every level of the home.
  • Ensure there is one smoke alarm inside and outside each sleeping area.
  • Test smoke alarms monthly.
  • Change smoke alarm batteries as needed. Never remove smoke alarm batteries without replacing them.
  • Ensure your smoke alarms are less than 10 years old.

 

2.  Make an escape plan and practice:

  • Ensure all members of your family know where to meet once evacuated.
  • Ensure kids know what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.
  • Conduct evacuation drills with your family.

 

3.  Complete the FEMA Home Fire Safety Checklist to ensure your home is safe from fire.

 

For more information about emergency preparedness, contact Sarah Barker, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator at (949) 635-1800 x6812 

 

 

Important Phone Numbers

Emergency     9-1-1

Non-Emergency Dispatch (949) 770-6011

Rancho Santa Margarita Police Services  (949) 635-1819   (for general questions)

  

Low Cost Pet

Vaccination Clinics

 

1st Wednesday of the month

6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Cats only)

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Dogs & Cats)

 

INFO: (714) 993-9193

www.scvvc.webs.com 

 

Bring your cat or dog for low cost vaccinations from the Society for California Veterinary Vaccine Care and pet licensing from OC Animal Care. Cash or credit card ($3 processing fee) is the only forms of payment accepted. AVID micro identification chips are also available which includes the registration and continuous, 24/7 lifetime monitoring.

 

Important Rabies Information

If you have a prior Rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic.

 

Vaccines for dogs include:

Rabies               $ 7.00

DAP/DHPP        $19.00

Bordetella          $14.00

Lyme                 $22.00

Microchip          $ 28.00

$2.00 hazardous materials disposal fee per pet

 

Vaccines for cats include:

FVRCP "3-in-1"  $18.00

FELV                  $21.00

Purevax              $20.00

Lyme                   $22.00

Microchip            $28.00

$2.00 hazardous materials disposal fee per pet

 

Prices are subject to change.

 

March Recreation Highlights

  

To register for these and other classes, visit Community Services on the City's website at www.cityofrsm.org/classregistration

 

City Hall & Bell Tower Regional Community Center

ABCs with Tiny Tots

$183 per month

 

Come join a fun way of preparing your child for kindergarten. With hands on interactive learning using art, science, cooking, music and much more, your child will learn their numbers, letters, shapes, learn to write their name as well as developing social skills of patience, listening, cooperation and sharing. No parent participation needed. Children must be fully potty trained.

Ages: 3 - 5 years. No class: 4/6-4/10

 

Instructor: SoCal Tiny Tots

 

110761 01     

M,W,F          Mar 2 - Mar 27    9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

110761 02      

M,W,F          Mar 30 - May 1   9 a.m. - 12 p.m.


 

Stone Soup - Theater for Children

$99/ 9 Classes

 

Musical Theater for young children! Join Miss Jennifer weekly to learn and rehearse an age-appropriate musical. Then perform it with costumes and sets for your friends and family! Kids come away from our programs having had a fun, accomplishment filled experience. Costume and Cast t-shirt are included in the price.

Ages: 3 - 7 years.

 

Instructor: Creative Kid Playhouse

 

110325 01    M        Mar 9 - May 4     1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

 

 

Paint, Paste and More!

$78/ 6 Classes

 

Encourage your child's creativity and imagination though hands-on exploration of a wide variety of manipulative and sensory materials. Different activities are introduced each week, so come for fun and dress for a mess. All activities are amendable to suit all ages.

Ages 1.5 - 5 years.

 

$20 cash materials fee due at  first class session

 

Instructor: Wendy Rault

 

110302 01     T           Mar 31 - May 12     10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

 


Tap, Jazz, Ballet Combo

$75/ 6 Classes

 

Dancers will be introduced to the world of beginning tap, jazz and ballet movements and terminology. Class also includes developing spatial awareness, rhythm and listening skills. Suitable for those new to dance; ballet and tap shoes are required.

Ages: 3-6 years. No class: 4/15

 

Instructor: OC Dance Productions

 

110403 01       W               Mar 18 - Apr 29    4:20 p.m. - 5:05 p.m.

  

 

Scratch Computer Programming

$123/ 9 Classes

 

Students will learn fundamental programming concepts using a visual programming language developed at MIT. Students will create their own games, animations, and various interactive projects using block-like puzzle pieces. Computation and math concepts such as sequences, loops, conditionals, variables, operators, x/y axis, coordinates, testing and debugging are covered. Educational fun while learning more about computers.

Ages: 7-12 years.

 

Instructor: Savoy Academy

 

120764 01       T                Mar 24 - May 19      3:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m.


 

Family Blogging with Professor Keefe

$60/ 4 Classes

 

Do you want to digitally share photos and stories with your extended family but you don't want to post everything to Facebook? Why not set up a family blog to record milestones and memories with a private audience? In four weeks you will learn how to set up and maintain a blog; how to post photos, stories and upload video content. You will also learn how to categorize entries for easy reference, how to link your blog to others in your family and how to hand select your private audience.

Ages: 18 years & up.


 Instructor: Professor Catherine Keefe

 

140817 01       T                Mar 3 - Mar 24         9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.