Wednesday, November 30, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

MAGICAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Tree lighting welcomes Santa.
With the official arrival of Santa the evening of Dec. 1, Murrieta kicks off its popular Holiday Magic events that this year adds a new wrinkle to what have become traditions of the season.

The Historic Downtown that has been spruced up over the last year has now been decked out for the holidays and will host Santa’s arrival from the North Pole with some seasonal fun that includes the Lighting of the Avenue.

Santa’s arrival

Santa is scheduled to coming tooling down Washington Avenue about 6 p.m. this Thursday, traveling via a vintage fire engine borrowed from the fire department for his Murrieta visit.

Tree lighting

And at 6:30 p.m., lights on the more than 120 trees planted along the street last spring will be turned on to brighten the downtown and lift holiday spirits.  Banners have gone up along the streets, too, to add to the festive flavor of the avenue.

Working with the newly formed Historic Downtown Murrieta Association, a whole program of activities has been planned to entertain those present from 5-8 p.m.  There will be entertainment on the stage, Christmas caroling and a chance to get photos with Santa and sip refreshments, too.

Santa parades

The tree lighting marks the start of Holiday Magic time, the centerpiece of which is the Santa parades to Murrieta neighborhoods.  Santa’s entourage will be stopping on the big white stars on residential streets weekdays from Dec. 5 to 15.  To find out when Santa will be in your area, check the web address below.

Other activities

Murrieta kids can also get a letter from Santa if their name gets added to the list by Dec. 20.  Leave the youngster’s name, address and phone number on the Santa hotline (461-6086) or by registering online at the address below.

The best dressed homes in town also will be recognized.  To enter your home or block in the holiday home decorating contest, apply by 5 p.m. Dec. 13, also at the address below.  Or stop by California Oaks Sports Park to pick up a form.

For Santa’s schedule:

murrieta.org/services/parksuploads/events/holiday.pdf

For Santa’s letters and home decorating info:

murrieta.org/services/parksrec.asp

For more information:  304-7275

PUBLIC PROJECTS

We’re adding some width to the roads.
A couple of street widening projects are either underway or will be soon and will help move traffic around town more efficiently.

A sixth lane is being built on the westerly side of Murrieta Hot Springs Road from Jackson Street to Margarita Road.  And work starts soon on adding another lane to the west side of Washington Avenue from Vineyard Avenue to Fullerton Road near Murrieta Valley High School.

Meanwhile, crews are heading to the finish line on interchange improvements at I-15 and California Oaks Road.  Both on-ramps are being widened and double left-turn lanes created at the interchange to speed motorists onto the freeway.

LIBRARY GAINING NEW DIRECTOR

McKinney to lead library to new facility.
A highly experienced pro has been named Murrieta’s new director of library services.  Loretta McKinney takes over the post Dec. 12, coming from the Escondido Public Library where she has been second in charge.

McKinney’s worked in libraries for 23 years, experience that will prove helpful as the city starts construction soon on its new library and prepares to offer services out of a facility that will add about 40,000 books to its collection and increase its space six-fold.  The library’s been operating out of an old bank building barely bigger than some Murrieta homes since opening in 1999.

LIBRARY READIES FOR THE SEASON & NEW YEAR

Storytimes resume, decorations go up.
And speaking of the library and books, registration has opened for the After School Club that will gather together youngsters in grades 2-5 on Wednesday afternoons in December for storytelling, crafts and cartoons.  Enrollment’s limited, so sign up early.

Following its holiday break, two other storytime programs – Preschool and Mommy & Me – resume with winter sessions running Jan. 10 through Feb. 14.  Registration opens Dec. 26.

There also are a couple of activities adults and kids alike can take on to help decorate the library for the season.  Stop by and decorate a link that can be added to the paper chain dressing up the place.  And bring by old, unusual, handmade or other unique and unbreakable ornaments to put on the library tree.  No glass, please.

For information on any of these activities: 461-6134.

WEB SITE READY FOR DEBUT

Reworked site adds info, services.
A revamped city web site that takes advantage of new technologies to offer expanded services is to be turned on Dec. 7.  In development the past five months, the site will replace one five years old and will sport a new look.

The site is to be previewed at the City Council meeting Dec. 6 and be put into service the next morning.

Along with lots of new material added to the site, users can take advantage of At Your Service, the around the clock online communication system that offers information on more than 100 city programs and takes requests for service.

Streaming video also is being added to the site and expects to make available its first City Council broadcast on Jan. 17.  That means residents who don’t have cable service can pick up the council meetings via the Internet.  Over time, other video presentations also will be available on the site.

MURRIETA THROUGH TIME

All can help recognize community’s past.
The community’s rich and varied past will be commemorated in the soon to be built Town Square park via the Murrieta Through Time project organized by the Murrieta Rotary Club.  And you can be a part of it.

Sections of the park’s perimeter have been set aside for monuments recognizing significant points in Murrieta’s past.

To help fund the project, which the club is doing in partnership with the city to celebrate Rotary’s centennial, the group is selling bricks that will pave the areas around the monuments.  Bricks will be engraved with names of people or groups the donor wishes to recognize.

For details, call 951-695-5367, x.34 or go to the project’s web site:

murrietathroughtime.org.

Construction on the park is expected to start early next year.

It’s part of the Town Square development downtown that will be home to civic facilities and private office buildings.  The police station and senior center already have opened, and library and city hall construction should be underway in a few months.

Buildings will be clustered around a four-acre central park with outdoor amphitheater that will be host to an array of events in the future.