State Assemblymember Brian Maienschein is pleased to announce that he will be hosting an OPEN HOUSE event on June 21st from 4:30pm – 6:00pm at his District Office located at 12396 World Trade Drive Suite 118 San Diego, CA 92128. We look forward to seeing Scripps Ranch residents at this event. Light refreshments will be provided. Thank you for your support!

St. Gregory the Great is sponsoring a blood drive on Sunday, May 26th from 8am until 1pm  

Please Schedule Your Blood Donation Appointment - Lives Depend On It

Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church
Parking Lot 11451 Blue Cypress DR
San Diego, CA, 92131

Sunday May 26, 2013
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sponsor Code: SGCC
Click here to make an appointment

Following an extremely dry winter, CAL FIRE has increased its staffing in Southern California for fire season. Starting Monday, April 15, CAL FIRE began transitioning into fire season in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Over the past month, CAL FIRE has been hiring and training seasonal firefighters to augment its full-time firefighters and will now staff most of the department's seasonal fire stations around the clock, along with several water dropping helicopters. Unless weather conditions drastically change, CAL FIRE will begin staffing its airtankers in Southern California on April 22.

In late March, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted their monthly snow survey and the low levels have CAL FIRE concerned about the impact to this year's fire season. The lack of rain from January to March across the state is likely to go down as the driest ever in Northern Sierra Nevada with only five and half inches of rain since January 1.

With fire season now officially underway in Southern California, CAL FIRE is asking homeowners to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires and that every home has 100 feet of Defensible Space.

Here are some tips to help prepare your home for fire season:

• Maintain 100 feet of Defensible Space
• Clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.
• Trim branches six feet from the ground.
• Use trimming, mowing and power equipment before 10 a.m.
• Landscape with fire resistant plants.
• Use fire resistant building materials on your home.

For more information on preparing for wildfires and defensible space www.ReadyForWildfire.org

Green Living Tour 2013, Part 1: a Super Energy-Efficient Home

See Energy Upgrade California in action, right in the middle of Scripps Ranch. The homeowner, CCSE and local provider ASI will be on hand to explain the program's energy audits and rebates, answer your questions, and show you the results.

Saturday, April 20th, 10am-2pm
11415 Scripps Lake Drive

Features that make this home healthier (purer, less polluted air), safer, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient include:
house sealing and dual-paned windows, added attic insulation, insulated hot water pipes, solar attic fans, and extra venting for proper equalization, solar tube, CFL and LED lighting, solar pool heating and electrical generation.

Chevy Volt with a level-2 car charger fed by the solar electric system

Clean vehicle experts will also be on hand to discuss electric vehicle options and state rebates.

California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) Presentation: Home Energy Upgrades 

CCSE is sponsoring a community educational event to help Scripps Ranch residents learn about home energy upgrades and available incentives. Through Energy Upgrade California, homeowners can tap into rebates between $1,000 and $4,500 to offset the cost of upgrades.

Thursday, April 18, 2013, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive

For more information, contact one of CCSE's Home Energy Coaches at (858) 244-1177 or visit www.energycenter.org/homeupgrade

"Bus Rapid Transit", a major upgrade and revamp, is coming to the I-15 Corridor in 2014. It includes a new transit center at Miramar College; improved service to the north, south, and west; and possible future feeder service to/from Scripps Ranch. This presentation would provide an update on that project as well as to gather input on potential future transit service in Scripps Ranch.

This presentation and Q&A by MTS is your best chance to learn and to influence what's coming. We need your presence and support!

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013 6:30-8:00pm
SRCA Community Center, 11885 Cypress Canyon Drive

Here is a link to the City's website to view The Watermark shopping complex Draft Environmental Impact Report. Comments are due April 14th and please send them to dsdeas@sandiego.gov and President@ScrippsRanch.org If you need any assistance please let us know.

The draft EIR concludes that the project would result in significant environmental impacts to the following areas: TRANSPORTATION / TRAFFIC CIRCULATION / PARKING, and AIR QUALITY. Please keep in mind the City Council could make a statement of overriding considerations that would approve the project and not mitigate the significant impacts. The traffic, circulation and parking text is found in Part 6.

Click here to view the EIR

SSR Garden Share 
Sunday, March 10th 3:30-4:30pm 
SRCA Community Center, 11885 Cypress Canyon Drive 

Rattlesnake season will peak soon, Get prepared, Not scared!
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Innovations Academy (10380 Spring Canyon Road)

We are honored to host herpetologist and leading authority on local reptiles and amphibians, Jeff Lemm. His dynamic presentation will cover rattlesnake awareness, natural history, and safety, as well as an overview of some of our other local reptiles and amphibians. Besides being an expert in his field, Jeff is an avid and gifted photographer. You will surely see many of his exceptional pictures during the presentation, as well as in his book, the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the San Diego Region. A limited number of books will be on hand for purchase ($25) and signing by the author. Jeff is a Senior Research Coordinator at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and founder of the North American Field Herping Association (NAFHA).

Seating is limited, to reserve email: Janice@FamilyAdventuresinNature.org

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has made a number of improvements in the efficiency and convenience of transit for riders as well as providing a low cost and increasingly "green" mode of transportation, however, few Scripps Ranch residents are aware or able to easily access services. Currently, MTS has a bus that goes to Alliant International University. MTS is interested in extending service to Scripps Ranch that would benefit our community.

This survey by the Scripps Ranch Civic Association (SRCA) is designed to gauge the interest of Scripps Ranch residents in establishing local feeder bus service that goes to/from the new Bus Rapid Bus Station in Mira Mesa and I-15 (behind the Mira Mesa Market Center), including stops in Scripps Ranch.

It should take 3 to 5 minutes to complete. The SRCA values your feedback. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Bob Ilko at President@ScrippsRanch.org

The SRCA's Sustainable Scripps Ranch committee is working with MTS to bring you this survey to improve the quality of life for Scripps Ranch residents.

Click here to take the survey

Repeat: Tour the "Greenest Home in San Diego"
Saturday, February 23rd 2013- 10am

This is a "dome home" built by the owner using new sustainable technology. It's filled with beautiful design features created from sustainable materials, and takes full advantage of solar technologies, rainwater and greywater harvesting, an urban orchard, electric car. and more. The builder/owner will give us a personalized tour, inside and out, with plenty of time for questions. Twenty of us visited last year and found it both creative and beautiful. We'll carpool to Pt. Loma together, leaving at 9:30am sharp from the "Old Vons" parking lot or you can meet us in Pt Loma if you like. Contact us to RSVP and get directions: sustainablescrippsranch@gmail.com .
www.domicilesforanewamerica.com

Garden Share
Sunday, March 10th 3:30-4:30pm
SRCA Community Center, 11885 Cypress Canyon Drive