The City’s Fourth of July Parade and Family FunFest are the perfect way to honor America and celebrate the freedoms we all enjoy.  

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

Join us for the annual Fourth of July Parade, starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade begins on  Frederick Street at Alessandro Boulevard and ends at Town Gate Plaza.  Arrive early to get the best viewing spot.

FOOD, LIVE MUSIC, AND FAMILY FUNFEST

The Family FunFest will be held at Morrison Park and Mountain View Middle School.  The gates will open at 2 p.m. on July 4. Come set up your spot, relax, and enjoy a variety of live bands that will take the stage beginning at 4 p.m.  The fireworks extravaganza starts at 9 p.m. and will be synced to patriotic music played by KOLA 99.9 FM.

For more information and how to purchase tickets for this exciting event visit the City's website.

PETS, PEOPLE, AND FIREWORKS

Fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for some animals and people. Fear of loud sounds - fireworks, thunder, gunshots - are called noise phobias. For a pet, and for some people who are affected by loud noises, this may be a terrifying and uncomfortable time. Your pet cannot control their reaction to loud noises. If you have a pet or know someone who reacts poorly to fireworks, please make arrangements to assist in making this day easier for them.

If your pets are outdoors, please consider bringing them inside. It’s not uncommon for pets to break free from fenced yards if they become frightened by loud noise.  Information on how to reclaim lost pets can be found at the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter's website.

IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDER

Don't let your holiday plans be ruined by using illegal fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal in the City of Moreno Valley. Violators could face fees and fines of up to $3,500 and six months in jail.

Watch an important video message about illegal fireworks from Moreno Valley's Police and Fire Departments and the Animal Shelter.

A Swap Zone set up in the Police Department parking lot provides residents with another option to buy and sell items.  With distinct signage and a Citywide Camera recording transactions, Moreno Valley’s Swap Zone provides an alternative to meeting a stranger at a private residence or unfamiliar location.

The area is also available for visitation exchanges of children in families with custodial arrangements.

As the number of online person-to-person sales has grown along with the use of websites like Craigslist and LetGo, local communities have seen an increase in related crime including assaults, robberies, and other thefts.

The City’s new Swap Zone aims to reduce these types of crimes by providing a highly visible location in the police department parking lot outfitted with a camera.

The designated area is solely an exchange location, and the City cannot provide assurances against unfavorable interactions between buyers and sellers. The Swap Zone is to be used only for lawful exchanges of items, with the exception of weapons or any other dangerous materials. The Moreno Valley Police Department is not responsible for the value, authenticity, or legitimacy of the transactions.

The Swap Zone is located at the Moreno Valley Police Department, 22850 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos in Moreno Valley. For more information please call 951.486.6700.

Additional social media transaction safety tips:

• Use sites like Moreno Valley's “Swap Zone” to help document these types of transactions.
• Do not meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home.
• Be particularly careful when buying/selling high value items.
• Tell a friend or family member where you're going.
• Take your cell phone with you.
• Consider having a friend accompany you.
• Never purchase anything online using your credit card from a site that does not have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).
• Ask a lot of questions.
• Avoid meetings at night.
• Trust your instincts.

On June 20, the Moreno Valley City Council honored Bill Yearsley, founder of “Bill’s Special Kids Baseball League,” for his longtime commitment to his community and the local baseball education league and therapy program he created for children with special needs.

Known as the Stallions, the league is celebrating its 20th anniversary of helping children with special needs enjoy America’s favorite pastime. The hundreds of children who have played in the Stallions over the last 20 years have left with a sense of empowerment knowing they can overcome any challenge.

Mr. Yearsley has spent 47 years volunteering as a board member for Moreno Valley Youth Federation Pony Baseball. He began The Stallions in 1997 with just 12 children; the league has since grown to 75 children.

Mr. Yearsley’s commitment to children, baseball and his community is extraordinary.  

Longtime Recreation Trails Board Member Kim Nelson was recognized by the City Council this week for her service and dedication to the community.

As an avid horseback rider, Kim has successfully integrated her passion for equestrian arts with her dedication to public service.

Ms. Nelson served on the Recreational Trails Board from 2004 through 2016. 

As a Trailseeker, she was involved in the development of the Moreno Valley Equestrian Center. She is a founding member of the Adopt-A-Trail program and maintains the Quincy Street Trail. She is also a member of the Roy Rogers Rangers Mounted Shooting organization. 

Thank you for your dedicated service to maintaining the trails of Moreno Valley for all to enjoy.

The City of Moreno Valley selected the Salvation Army as one of its Business Spotlights for June, recognizing 17 years of dedicated service to the City’s residents.

Under the leadership of Lt. David Cain, the Salvation Army has expanded its services to assist more than 4,000 people through its food pantry program.

The Salvation Army’s youth day camp also hosts more than 70 children every spring and summer break.

Living up to their motto of Doing the Most Good, the Moreno Valley Salvation Army serves a critical role in helping our young people build good character and ensuring our community thrives as a whole.

A commercial featuring the Salvation Army will run on the City of Moreno Valley’s website and on MVTV3 will run through the month of June.

The City Council recently adopted its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 which identifies the City of Moreno Valley’s infrastructure needs.

The Capital Improvement Plan includes projects involving:  

• Interchanges
• Street and Highways
• Electric Utility  
• Parks
• Bridges
• Traffic Signals
• Buildings  
• Underground Utilities
• Drainage

Each fiscal year, projects are scheduled based on City Council priorities, economic development opportunities and anticipated funding availability. 

Firefighters from Station 65 visited  children attending the Salvation Army's Day Camp on Wednesday to answer questions about the life of a firefighter and safety tips about what to do in the event of a fire.

Campers were also visited by staff from the City's Office of Emergency Management, who explained how the office helps Moreno Valley residents prepare for safety in the event of earthquakes, heavy rainstorms and other emergencies.