El Centro adds lighting, police
In a matter of one week, the city of El Centro officially unveiled better light to the downtown area and added three positions to the police department.
Merchants and city officials are hopeful a newly completed $1.1 million streetlight project will serve as the cornerstone for rebuilding and expanded investment in downtown.
The city last week held an official celebration of the project, which saw the installation of some 27 retro-style lamp posts between Eighth and Fourth streets.
Then Tuesday, council moved to unfreeze three police officer positions during a regularly scheduled meeting.
For months, residents have been vocal about adding more police officers for various reasons, including to better patrol the downtown area.
Governor signs bill to extend tax program
A week ago, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to extend the Capital Investment Incentive Program for one year. Local officials said the program extension could aid the region to be more competitive when persuading an industry to come to the area.
Assembly Bill 755, introduced by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, was sponsored by the County of Imperial, the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business of Imperial County, EnergySource, and the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation. The program is expected to boost the region’s ability to attract large manufacturing facilities and industries such as renewable energy, to invest in the community.
Kudos to the local organizations that backed this bill.
Event doubles as it supports needy families
Success was apparent at the Imperial Valley Food Bank here Saturday night during the organization’s most significant fundraising of the year.
The seventh annual Harvest Bowl benefit dinner doubled the number of guests that attended in the fight against hunger.
Approximately 200 guests attended the annual event held at Sahara Packing Co., and with the purchase of each ticket, priced at $100, a local underprivileged family was provided with 400 meals.
Kudos to all the individuals and organizations that supported this event.
Elmore honored with prestigious award
The 13th annual Farmer of the Year banquet here Thursday evening celebrated the late John Elmore as the Jim Kuhn Memorial Farmer of the Year.
During the annual meeting of the Imperial County Farm Bureau at the Stockman’s Club here, Elmore was presented the award posthumously, as he passed away at 91-years-old on Aug. 29.
Local Valley stars shine on the red carpet
For two days, film artists showcased their work in front of an audience, demonstrating short movies in a variety of genres during the sixth annual Imperial Valley Film Fest & Artist Showcase.
In total, 24 films were screened Friday and Saturday at The Movies in Imperial. The event also showcased art from local photographers as well as workshops on screenwriting, stunt work, producing and makeup basics.
Some of those directors were locals and took home awards. Kudos to the organization for continuing to feature local artists and the local artists that participated.
Young adults vow to civic duty
Energized by civic engagement, 39 young adults from across Imperial County committed to service at an AmeriCorps Borderlands ceremony recently.
There is no more rewarding experience, Miriam Belopolsky, Imperial County Office of Education director of the Student Well-Being Department, said to the AmeriCorps members who filled Imperial County Court House Department 9 for the swearing-in ceremony Friday.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency founded in 1990 to provide funds to the states. This year, California apportioned $345 million to 57 sub-grantees, in this case ICOE, one of many legal applicants over the last 25 years.