Preparing for the Wet Season

The months of November through March will bring with them severe and frequent rainstorms in California. It’s important to prepare for the possible floods and damage that will follow. The City of Corona is already beginning to prepare for the upcoming rains and you should do the same. Currently in the fourth year of our drought, the recent flooding and mud slides signal the beginning of the wet season which will affect much of Southern California. Do you know the proper procedures to prepare for the possible flooding?

Before the serious rain storms begin you should review your flood insurance policy. What’s covered by it? Does it need updated? Make sure that your property is covered. That’s not something that can be done after the fact!

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Are you on the top floor? If you’ve been noticing a little leak in your roof, you need to alert maintenance immediately. What seems like just a small problem will be exacerbated by the coming rains and could cause serious damage. Have any leaks repaired ahead of time so you won’t have to worry about them during the storms.

You should have an emergency kit prepared and stored inside your apartment. Since the electricity could go out, gather flashlight batteries so you’ll have enough. Also make sure to have plenty of bottled water and non-perishable food items just in case. You should include a first-aid kit and a whistle.

Create a family preparedness plan so that every member of your household knows what to do in the event of extreme flooding. Everyone should designate a first point of contact so they know who they should get in touch with first in the event of an emergency during the day while the family is apart.

It’s really important to be prepared for serious emergencies such as floods. With El Niño on the horizon, there could be some severe flooding and mud slides happening through the next couple of months. During a flood avoid downed power lines, never drive through flooded areas and walking across flooded areas. Even a small current can sweep you off of your feet and there could be hidden manholes or ditches that aren’t visible to you. Be prepared and you’ll save yourself a ton of trouble. For more information head to the CA Department of Water Resources.


Sources Cited
The Patch
Inner Circle Corona

Lend a Helping Hand in Your Community

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It might seem like one person making a huge difference just isn’t a possibility. How can one person make a change? That’s how ALL change starts: with one person! There are tons of opportunities to get involved and volunteer in Corona. If you want to make a difference, you have to take the small steps forward to make change.

Foster a younger generation of people and impart your knowledge on them. Take a college student under your wing and mentor them in your field or major. Become a role model for a young person who will incorporate your advice and life experience into their life. The best part is you can create the schedule based on your availability. If you aren’t available to meet in person, you can arrange to correspond via emails. Whatever works for you! If you’re interested in applying through StudentMentor.org head here.

If you’re interested in bringing a community together and make a meaningful impact, you can become a Girl Scout Organizer through the Girl Scouts of America! Use your flair and personality to get the word out about the great things that girls can do as Girl Scouts. Plan recruitment events to garner even more support from the community. Even if you’re unsure that you have what it takes, the organization provides training through every single step of the process so you never have to feel lost!

If you’d like to take that even further, you can become a Troop Leader. Introduce young girls to new experiences and adventures every meeting! Give girls the confidence boost they need and change their lives. Make new friends while improving your leadership skills. If you’re interested in learning how to become a Girl Scout Troop Leader or organizer, check here.

Are you confident using a computer and completing all of its tasks and functions? Many patrons at the Corona Public Library require assistance to navigate the internet to apply for jobs and access emails. These basic tasks might seem basic to you but these can be a little intimidating for others. Give people the help they need by becoming a Tech Coach at the Corona Public Library. Luckily, for you and your mentees, the library is only a quick 12 minute drive from Montecito at Dos Lagos apartments!

There are tons of opportunities in Corona to get involved and make a difference in someone’s life. What might seem simple to you can mean the world to someone else. It could be something as small as giving advice on college, inspiring confidence in a young girl or guiding someone through the job application process online. One small thing can change someone’s whole life! Change starts with you! For more volunteer opportunities head to Volunteer Match.

Fall & Halloween Events This Month

With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, there are tons of fun events and activities on the way too. Luckily for us, they all take place in Corona. Unfortunately you’ll have the difficulty of choosing between which fun event you’re going to be attending come Halloween!

Starting a little early on October 24th, the Fall Harvest Festival and Food Drive is taking place at Green River Promenade. Bring with you 10 canned food items and receive a mini pumpkin and $75 worth of coupons to local restaurants. Snack on some yummy food and play games. If you’re brave enough, you can get in the bounce house! Paint the perfect pumpkin and take a ride on a pony. Afterwards, make sure to take a walk through the craft market to see what’s being sold.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Also on the 24th is the Inland Vineyard Harvest Festival from 5:30 to 8. There will be plenty of photo opportunities at the festival as your kids get their faces painted, play laser tag and bounce around on the inflatables. Enjoy some delicious food and make sure to enter in the raffles! Participate in the Trunk-n-Treat Decorating Competition and see if your idea is creative enough to win! Make sure to check out the live music from the Flatbed Pickers! This fest will be fun for the whole family.

October 30th is the Dead Man’s Party live concert event! Dead Man’s Party is an Oingo Boingo cover band. So if you love 80’s alternative rock, this is the place to be! Tickets are $30 for this all-ages event. The concert takes place at M15 Concert Bar and Grill. Doors open at 7.

On Halloween night, the Shops at Dos Lagos are hosting the Halloween Spooktacular! Make sure to wear your best costume as there’ll be a costume competition for kids 12 and under. Make sure to watch out for the stilt walker as he towers over the crowd, but you won’t be able to miss him! If you’re a crafty one, you can create your very own Halloween craft. Stop at all the different booths and shops for candy as you trick or treat through the area all while listening to some spooky Halloween music! It will be a fun, family-friendly night so come on out!

Being part of a community that loves getting involved and putting on fun events like these are the best party of living here at Montecito at Dos Lagos. You won’t be able to choose between all the fun events going on this month! For a full list of all the events happening in Corona and the surrounding areas this month head to Inland Empire.

Corona Pumpkin Patches

Colorful leaves, hot chocolate, cozy blankets: these are just a few of the things that most exemplify the fall season. But there’s one thing that you absolutely must do during fall. You have to go to a pumpkin patch! Picking out a pumpkin whether it be to carve, to set outside your house or to make pumpkin seeds from, is one of the most fun fall activities, especially if you have kids!

At the Pumpkin Factory, they do pumpkins best! Grown on the family farm, you and your family are welcome to explore the vast options and pick the best and orangest for your home. After you pick your perfect pumpkin, head on over to the rides and games for some fall fun. For the adventurous types, strap into a harness and hop on the bungee trampoline. Or climb into a giant orb and try walking on water. For those a little more timid or younger children, take a ride on the ATV train! This ride is good for the whole entire family! There are so many other rides at the Pumpkin Factory. To see the full list of rides available check here. The Pumpkin Factory is only a short 10 minute drive away from Montecito at Dos Lagos so you don’t have far to go to find your perfect pumpkin!

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You can spend hours hunting through Tom’s Farms to find your favorite pumpkin. There are just so many! Tom’s Farms is a family business sprung up from a small produce stall on the side of the road. During the rest of the year, Tom’s Farms is a great place for fresh fruits and veggies, gourmet foods and sweets. During the fall season, it’s a pumpkin patch! Every weekend throughout October, you can guess the weight of a pumpkin. If you guess closest to the actual weight, you get to take the pumpkin home! If you stop by Tom’s Farms on October 24th or 31st you can participate in a pumpkin carving contest. The winners will receive a gift basket from the store. If you think you’re a creative carver and have a steady hand, make sure you enter the contest! Tom’s Farms is located 8 minutes away from our home at Dos Lagos.

Luckily for us both of these pumpkin patches opened last week so we have a full month to find the plumpest pumpkin! The most fun fall activity is getting to carve out a face in the pumpkin and displaying it proudly on your doorstep. Do you like carving pumpkins? What’s the best one you’ve ever carved? Share your pictures with us of your carvings!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Race for the Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many are unaware of the steps that need to be taken in order to detect the disease in its early stages. That’s what this month is all about! Spreading information and in turn, awareness. Corona and the surrounding area is prepared to show its support and rally together to take the steps forward to bring the disease to an end!

The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the largest non-profit breast cancer foundation in the world today. Last year alone the foundation provided over 50,000 families affected by breast cancer with financial and social support. Susan G. Komen continues to grow every year by supporting research, spreading knowledge and providing grants to families affected by the disease.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

The biggest event for the Susan G. Komen foundation is the Race for the Cure which takes place all over the country during the month of October. This year the Inland Empire race takes place on October 18 and the foundation hopes to raise over $500,000 for breast cancer research!

On the day of the race, make sure to visit the interactive I AM THE CURE booth. While you’re there make a Curemitment. A Curemitment is “a commitment, a goal, a personal promise – to take one or more action steps that may reduce their breast cancer risk.” Or if you can’t make it to the race but you’d still like to make a Curemitment, you can do so online here! Check here to see how you can fulfill your commitment.

Costumes are optional but if you’re going to wear one, opt for a tutu! Wear a tutu on race day and take a picture of yourself wearing your tutu with a sign explaining why you think the funds raised are vital to the community! Make sure to share you photo on social media and tag it #DoYouTutu!

After your race, make sure you stick around for the Survivor Ceremony, recognizing the survivors of breast cancer in attendance as well as the awards ceremony. Once you finish your race, you’ll definitely be hungry so head over to the food court area to enjoy some delicious dishes from Carl’s Concessions, Juice It Up, Lil Miss Shortcakes, Papa Murphy’s and Kona Ice.

The race takes place on October 18th and the race village opens the doors at 6 AM. The 10K starts at 7 while the 5K doesn’t start until 8. There’s still plenty of time to register! Head here to register you or your team for the race. We hope to see you out there supporting such a great cause! This year’s race is located at the Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium, only 20 minutes away from our home at Montecito at Dos Lagos.

Get Back Into the Swing of Learning

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The kids are all back in school and enlightening and enriching themselves with new knowledge. Some adults, after leaving school, stop the learning process. Just because we’re out of school doesn’t mean we should ever stop learning! There are always new things to learn and old skills to be improved upon. There are plenty of opportunities in the Corona area to learn new things. We’ve rounded up just a few to give you an idea of all of the potential just waiting for you to grab it!

If you’re trying to find a way to get into shape but just going to a regular old gym is unmotivating (we’re with you on that!) you might need a new method of fitness. That’s where Z Fit N Dance comes in. All week they have a number of different Zumba fitness classes to get you up and moving. Zumba is a mix of dance and aerobic movements that will get your heart pumping while still ensuring you’re having a great time while you’re doing it. Z Fit N Dance has classes all week at numerous times so check the schedule on Facebook to see what times are best for you.

If you’re the artsy type then this next location on our list are where you’ll want to be. The Ceramic Cupboard will take you from start to finish of a piece of ceramic. Or if you’re only interested in the painting, you can do just that. You can use the pottery wheel or just your hands to form your perfect project. Then, once you’ve fired the piece and it’s solid and dry, you can add your own personal touch to it with paint. The instructors at the Ceramic Cupboard will teach you all the different methods for doing each of these techniques and many different ways of completing the projects. They have lots of extras to help give your piece that little something extra like clockwork, music boxes and trivets. The Ceramic Cupboard lets you get creative with your project in any way you choose. They’re just here to guide you! Check here for a list of their classes and the availability of each class.

The best part about these locations is that they’re each located under 20 minutes away from our home at Montecito at Dos Lagos. When you’ve taken a few classes and completed a few ceramics projects, you can bring them back home and show them off in your apartment or even teach some others. An education is the gift that just keeps on giving! That’s why you should never stop in your quest to learn.

Happy Hour in Corona (And With a Corona)

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After a long, grueling day at work, sometimes it’s great to just get together with friends or coworkers and kick back. Forgetting those workplace troubles for a few hours is a great feeling and it’s not hard when there’s such a thing as happy hour! A lot of restaurants have happy hour deals available during the week with cheaper prices on drinks and meals to reel you in. Around Corona, there are plenty of places to hang out, relax and enjoy a drink or two with some work friends.

RA Sushi has some of the best sushi around. With inventive cocktails and lively music, this is the place to be after work for drinks. RA Sushi has happy hour every single day of the week so you’ll never have to worry about missing out on it. Monday through Saturday, Happy Hour is from 3-7 and from 10-closing time. On Sunday Happy Hour is from 8PM to closing time. While the drink specials vary from week to week, the sushi at RA Sushi is between $3.49 and $8.99! You can’t beat that! Order some delicious signature sushi rolls or maybe some more traditional ones and chow down! RA Sushi is within walking distance of Montecito at Dos Lagos; only 7 minutes away!

The Citrus City Grille boasts the happiest hours around. With happy hours every single day of the week you don’t ever have to miss out. From Sunday through Thursday Happy Hour is from 3PM to closing time and on Friday and Saturday Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 and 9 to 11. Citrus City Grille has both amazing drink deals as well as amazing food deals. With $6 well drinks, $5 draft beers and $7 martinis you can’t go wrong. To eat you can get some delicious appetizers like calamari and crispy flatbreads for $7. Their assortment of foods and the amazing prices will have you back multiple times a week! Citrus City Grille is located right in the Shops at Dos Lagos so you don’t have to go far for this happy hour!

Black Horse Tavern and Grill is a family owned business specializing in Hanger steaks and gourmet sandwiches and burgers. Black Horse also has happy hour specials every day of the week, Monday through Friday 3-7, 11-4 Saturday and all day Sunday! With their special Beer Flight you can get 4 Premium draft beers for $7.50 and $3.50 well drinks. Black Horse Tavern & Grill also offers a variety of small plates to follow those delicious drinks all for under $7. We recommend the Beer Battered Onion Petals! Don’t miss out on these fantastic happy hour deals on some spectacular food and drinks. The best part is that if you forget about it all week, you can still go Sunday, at any time! The Black Horse Tavern and Grill is only 10 minute drive away from Montecito at Dos Lagos.