Image Up Advertising & Design

Neighborhood Watch 24 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JANUARY 2016 Due to all the new construction and high sales, Four Seasons continues to grow toward its build-out. Just over the top of Four Seasons Blvd., the construction crews have recently completed a number of new neighborhoods. Judy Irving, New Residents Chairperson, has contacted many people in an effort to recruit new block captains. These people communicate with residents about community concerns and what Neighborhood Watch is all about, and often help plan social events so neighbors can get to know each other. The motto of "See Something. Say Something" is explained in each new area. Making friends and getting to know one's neighbors fosters a community where people watch out for each other. Involvement may be noticing strangers lurking about, bringing in a blown-over trashcan, or sharing a coffee at Smitty's. Our local police count on our help with this process of watching out for each other. This year Anita Worthen and the Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee arranged many activities to keep the community aware and safe: everything from holiday safety to dealing with panhandlers. Concerns about local tax increases due to the hospital expansion led to a panel that explained each step in the growth of our health system. State Senator Mike Morrell answered many of the concerns of our community. Other speakers discussed the drought and the local water situation. On Dec. 9, at the holiday potluck brunch, Mayor Brenda Knight spoke about her strong commitment to making Beaumont "work" again. She outlined a number of upper staff changes and introduced acting City Manager Elizabeth Gibbs-Urtiaga. Urtiaga spoke about the pending lawsuit and the possibility of a city bankruptcy. She also shared the many changes that have been made so that the current problems will not occur again. To be sure the city government is more transparent, she urged more participation in Beaumont public meetings and pointed out the website where information is readily available. Neighborhood Watch has already arranged to have the City Manager return to give us more in-depth information about the Mello Roos and CDF taxes on Four Seasons property. Following the city speakers, Corporal Josh Galbraith gave specific tips on holiday shopping safety including being aware of our surroundings at ALL times. In February, we hope to present an interesting program on the history of our rich area including Beaumont, Banning and Cherry Valley. Neighborhood Watch is helping to keep our community safe and informed so that we may all enjoy another happy "golden year." ~ Andrea Henderson, Secretary, Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee Beaumont Blooms They crown our traffic circles, pop up in xeriscape yards and survive all weather extremes at Four Seasons. Their scientific name is Ferocactus, meaning "fierce or wild cactus." Cylindrical or barrel shaped, they can rank among the largest cacti of North American deserts. Their most distinctive feature is their prominent ribs with heavy spines. In some species, one or more central spines are curved like a fishhook, accounting for the common name fishhook barrel cactus. Barrel cactus flowers grow at the top of the plant where they serve as a food source for insects. They bear no spines and only a few scales. Fruits become fleshy and often juicy when mature, but are not usually considered edible for humans. Native Americans boiled young flowers in water to eat like cabbage and mashed older boiled flowers for a drink. They also used the cactus as a cooking pot by cutting off the top, scooping out the pulp and inserting hot stones together with food. The spines were used as needles, as awls and in tattooing. In an emergency, the pulp of the stem can be chewed for its food and water content, but obvious care must be taken during such an operation. The taste can vary greatly depending on species. ~ Len Tavernetti Barrel cactus in bloom Four Seasons' barrel farm

• Cover