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RSM Messenger
August 2015
In This Issue
City Manager's Message
Zero Trash RSM
Summer Concerts in the Park
Patriot Day Ceremony
Crime Prevention
Register for CEPA Academy
Pet Clinic Founders Honored
Pet Vaccination Clinic
SMWD Water Heroes
Graffiti Hotline
August Recreation Highlights
Join Our Mailing List
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
 

 

Summer camps and classes continue through August - Sign up today! 

 

Registration  begins

Monday, August 17 for Fall  Recreation Classes

at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center

 

 

 

 

City Manager's Message

  

Summer in Rancho Santa Margarita means camps and classes at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, awesome concerts with friends and neighbors in Central Park, and time to relax and enjoy all of the recreational opportunities that this wonderful community has to offer.  I hope your summer has been both safe and filled with fun activities with family and friends.  As we count down the days until school starts, I urge you to patronize the many high-quality retailers here in the City for your back-to-school shopping needs.  Sales tax is the largest source of revenue that the City receives, funding  general municipal operations such as police and fire services, in addition to paying for infrastructure improvements and maintenance.  The City receives just one percent of the sales tax collected during a sales transaction. Shopping local keeps our dollars here in town to ensure that one percent will continue to fund  the high quality services that residents have come to know and expect here in Rancho Santa Margarita.  

 

  

Sincerely,

Jennifer M. Cervantez  

 

ZeroTrash RSM
Saturday, August 1, 2015
10:00 a.m. - noon
 

(Participants meet at the courtyard between Cinepolis and Panera)

 

ZeroTrash RSM is a growing community  of volunteers who meet on the first Saturday of each month to rid the city of trash, litter, stickers and graffiti.  Join this collaboration of friends and neighbors  of all ages in their mission to improve the appearance of the City and enhance our environment.

 

For more information, or to register as a volunteer, visit The Bell Tower Foundation's website at belltowerfoundation.org. Individuals and groups are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Free Summer Concerts in Central Park
Continue Sundays, through August 16

6 - 8:00 p.m.      

         

Bring your blankets, chairs, family and friends to Central Park, located at the Civic Plaza, and become a part of the musical tradition of Rancho Santa Margarita as the Summer Concert Series continues. The City of Rancho Santa Margarita, in partnership with SAMLARC, will provide a variety of musical performances with the sunset as your backdrop. These concerts offer an opportunity for residents to gather together with friends and neighbors to experience beautiful summer evenings here in Rancho Santa Margarita with live music and dancing while enjoying the outdoors. Bring a picnic dinner, or choose from a variety of food vendors and enjoy a relaxing al fresco dinner on the lawn.

 

August 2    The Silverados

The Silverados playlist includes current top 40 country hits from artists like Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert, rounded out with a large repertoire of classic rock hits from the 60's and 70's like The Beatles, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and Guns N' Roses. The Silverados are a  talented, high energy, up tempo band that will appeal to a wide variety of music lovers.

 

August 9   Identity Theft

Identity Theft is a professional, high-energy 80's cover band comprised of five experienced and well-rounded musicians. With multiple vocalists, their song list covers a wide range of music/styles and their show is always a crowd pleaser.

 

Concert sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses wishing to market their goods and services to the thousands of  residents and visitors in attendance at each concert! For more information on concert sponsorship please contact the Community Services Department at (949) 216-9700 or click here to view sponsorship packages. 

Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony

Friday, September 11

6:00 p.m.

RSM Civic Center Flagpoles

 

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita invites the community to join together for a  Patriot Day commemoration on Friday, September 11, 2015. This sunset ceremony will  honor those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the United States on 9/11, and  pay tribute to those who rose to service in response to the tragedy.

 

We hope you'll join us on this day of remembrance to celebrate our freedom in a spirit of unity and national pride.

 

For more information, or to contribute to the ceremony, call Community Services at (949) 216-9700.

 


                   

Crime Prevention

 

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is pleased to announce their utilization of Nextdoor to share information on crime prevention and safety, public events, and emergency notifications. Nextdoor is a free, private social network monitored by law enforcement.   Nextdoor is being used by thousands of neighborhoods to quickly get the word out about a break-in, organize a Neighborhood Watch Group, and to receive local crime and safety updates. Please be assured that your website remains private. The OCSD will not be able to see any of the content on your neighborhood website except for the direct replies to department posts. Nextdoor's mission is to use the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods. 

 

Please be aware that Nextdoor is not the appropriate way to request emergency services, sheriff services, report criminal or suspicious activity, file a report, etc. If you require emergency services, please call 911, for non-emergency services please call (949) 635-1819.

 

We look forward to connecting with you on Nextdoor to build stronger, safer neighborhoods throughout Rancho Santa Margarita. 

 

 

                     
 
The City of Rancho Santa Margarita invites you to participate in our upcoming seven week Community Emergency Preparedness Academy (CEPA),  which is designed to  prepare participants to care for themselves, family, pets and neighbors in the event of a disaster.  The course is free and open to adult residents of RSM; teenagers my attend if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 

The series of  7 classes will begin on Tuesday, September 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall, with the exception of two sessions which will be held off-site. Classes will continue every Tuesday evening for seven weeks, with the last class being held on November 10. Class size is limited and reservations are required.

Class topics include:

  • Family Disaster Preparedness and Planning
  • Earthquake Preparedness
  • Fire Safety, Fire Suppression, and Wildfire Preparedness
  • Orange County Sheriff's Department and Fire Authority Operations
  • Tours of the County Emergency Operations Center, 911 Dispatch Center, and the Regional Fire & Operations Training Center

To register for CEPA, contact Sarah Barker, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, at [email protected] or (949) 635-1809. Click on these links for detailed flyer and class schedule.




 

Mayor Pro Tem Tony Beall, Deborah  and Dr. Todd Kopit, Mayor Brad McGirr.

Low Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic Founders Recognized for Dedicated Service

 

At their regular meeting on July 8, the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council presented a certificate of recognition to  Dr. Todd and Deborah Kopit, founders of the Society for California Veterinary Vaccine Care (SCVVC), a Nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving pet and wild animal health, safety, and welfare, broadening public awareness and interest in animal-related issues, and providing vital education to pet owners and to the general public.

  

Since 2009, the SCVVC and the Kopits, in partnership with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, have offered low cost pet vaccination clinics to the community. As the demand for vaccination services grew, clinics were held on a monthly basis starting in September of 2011, providing additional opportunities for residents to take advantage of low-cost and convenient "after-hours" animal care.

  

The Kopits dedication to providing monthly vaccination clinics in Rancho Santa Margarita is an invaluable service for pet owners, as regularly scheduled clinics enable pets to receive vaccinations in a timely manner, which is important in order to achieve the best possible immunity against disease.   

 

Dr. and Mrs. Kopit owned and operated a veterinary hospital in Orange County for more than 20 years, where they provided quality and compassionate healthcare for many animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises, and exotic pets; today the Kopits continue to care for homeless and rescued domestic animals, including horses.

 

In August of last year, the Kopits donated their 40 foot motor home, which they had converted into a mobile spay, neuter, and disaster response unit, to the SCVVC to further their mission of saving the lives of animals throughout Orange County. For more information on the SCVVC,  including volunteer opportunities, visit the SCVVC website or call (714) 993-9193.


 

      

Low Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic 

Wednesday, August 5

 

Bell Tower Regional Community Center

22232 El Paseo 

1st Wednesday of each 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) are 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

Microchip            $28.00

$2.00 hazardous materials disposal fee per pet

 

Prices are subject to change, clinic will cancel in the event of rain.

 

Santa Margarita Water District Names SustainaBlue Water Heroes

 

SustainaBlue Water Heroes continue to come to the rescue as Santa Margarita Water District customers rise to the challenge of cutting water use by 24 percent during the unprecedented California drought. So far, the District is using 22 percent less water than in 2013.

 

SMWD Directors in July recognized their second set of SustainaBlue Water Heroes for outstanding water efficiency. The honorees received an engraved glass plate from Directors and a yard sign that proclaimed them "Water Heroes."

 

 

Back, l-r: SMWD Directors Saundra Jacobs, Charlie Wilson, Chuck Gibson and Justin McCusker. Front, l-r: Maria and Jared Kovar, Gabriela Botoseanu and President Betty H. Olson, Ph.D.

 

The Kovar family of Rancho Santa Margarita and Arroyo Vista Apartments in Mission Viejo, managed by Gabriela Botoseanu, were July's SustainaBlue Water Heroes.

 

The Kovar family reduced their water use by 36 percent compared to last year. To accomplish that, they: 

  • Removed approximately 1,850 square feet of turf, and replaced it with all drought tolerant plants, including many native California plants
  • Retrofitted their existing pop-up spray heads to more efficient drip irrigation
  • Encouraged other friends and family members to change their landscaping

Maria Kovar and her son Jared accepted the award. She also credited her husband Mike and daughter Stacey with the impressive reduction, along with her niece Diana Fajardo, who lives with them.

 

Leaders at the Arroyo Vista Apartments reduced common-area water use at the 149-unit complex by an astounding 50 percent, year over year.

 

SMWD leaders credited manager Botoseanu with her forward-thinking approach to water management and her ability to spearhead a large landscape retrofit for her complex. Under her guidance, the complex: 

  • Removed more than 39,000 square feet of turf throughout the community
  • Converted overhead spray irrigation to an efficient drip system
  • Kept the entire cost of the project at approximately $2.25 per square foot

  

The Santa Margarita Water District is the second-largest in Orange County, providing water and wastewater service to 154,000 residents in Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera, Coto de Caza, Sendero, Talega and part of Mission Viejo.

 

SustainaBlue Water Heroes are honored each month. If you'd like to nominate a Water Hero, email Public Information Manager Jonathan Volzke at [email protected].

 
 

RSM Graffiti Hotline

(949) 635-1825


Please report any graffiti to the City's Graffiti Hotline at (949) 635-1825. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We strive to remove all graffiti within 48 hours from the time we receive your call, and are committed to promptly removing graffiti from public areas. Experience has shown that removing graffiti as soon as it occurs is the best prevention against future graffiti; rapid removal demonstrates to vandals that people care about their place of business and neighborhood and that their efforts to deface property has little chance of being seen.  

 

Remember, your safety comes first! When witnessing graffiti or vandalism taking place, call 911; please do not attempt to intervene.       

 

August Recreation Highlights

  

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

 

 

Tunes & Tales

$43/ 5 Classes

$48/ 5 Classes*

 

Let's get the wiggles out! Tunes & Tales is a Music and Movement Class for children ages 1 � to 4 years. Sing-a-longs and finger play songs start off this fun-filled class followed by music activities using bean bags, rhythm sticks, instruments, a parachute, and more. We will even have a chance to read a short story each week (2 � - 4 year old class only). The children have a great time while developing their listening and social skills. Parent/adult participation required.

 

Instructor: Vivian Stapleton

 

Ages: 1.5-2.5 yrs.

210913 03       Th              Aug 6-Sep 3       9-9:40 am

 

Ages: 2.5-4 yrs.*

210913 04       Th              Aug 6-Sep 3       9:45-10:40 am

 

 

Scratch Computer Programming

$123/ 6 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 yrs. No Class: 7/21 & 7/23

 

Instructor: Savoy Academy

 

220764 02       T,Th          Aug 4-Aug 20    3-4:30 pm


 
 

Beginning Guitar

$83/ 4 Classes

 

Learn to play the guitar in just five weeks. This class is designed to build a strong foundation for people with no experience playing the guitar. Students will learn several chords, strum styles and three classic rock songs. Students must bring their own guitar to class. Class is repeatable. Ages: 10 yrs. & up.

 

Instructor: Ron Gorman

 

220901 01       T               Aug 11-Sep 1     7-8 pm

 

Level 2

220901 02       T               Aug 11-Sep 1     8-9 pm

 

  

Beginning Ukulele

$83/ 4 Classes

 

Learn how to play current and classic songs on the ukulele. You will learn easy chords, how to read tablature and how to play different strum styles. No previous experience is required; please bring your own ukulele to class. Ages: 10 yrs. & up.

 

Instructor: Ron Gorman

 

220916 01       T               Aug 11-Sep 1     6-7 pm

 

Heartsaver CPR

$40/ 1 Class

 

Learn how to respond to breathing/cardiac emergencies for an adult, child and infant. Participants will receive an American Heart Association CPR & AED certification that is good for two years. Ages: 18 yrs. & up.

 

What to bring: $15 cash materials fee

 

Instructor: Joe Menton

 

260603 03       W              Aug 12               6-9 pm

  

City Hall Front
Rancho Santa Margarita Civic and Community Center