Not sure what to do with the kids this summer?

Why not consider one or more of the City of Chula Vista’s great Recreation Department Summer Camps! From sports to art and water fun, the staff has designed programs – both full and part time – to suit your youngsters.

June day camps offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Salt Creek Recreation Center, 2710 Otay Lakes Road, include “Water Wonderland”, June 11-14, with sports, arts and crafts and other water activities as well as a field trip to the new Seaworld’s Aquatica water park, $128 residents, $160 non-residents; “Carnival Kraze” from June 17-21 featuring carnival games, activities and challenges plus a field trip to the San Diego County Fair, $160 residents, $200 non-residents; and “Summerpalooza” from June 24-28 with fun activities and a visit to San Diego’s Belmont Park Amusement Park, $160 residents, $200 non-residents. These full time camps are geared for children ages 6-12, with an option of extended day care from 7-9 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. for $20.

July day camps offered from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Montevalle Recreation Center, 840 Duncan Ranch Road, feature “Wacky Sports Camp”, July 8-12, with participants playing a variety of sports and games off the beaten path. Children must bring a lunch and wear sun screen each day; “Wild Water Days”, July 15-19 includes water activities such as water wiffleball, slides and more. Besides swimwear, a change of clothes, lunch and sunscreen is recommended each day. Both camps are for children ages 6-12 and cost $120 residents, $150 non-residents. No field trips are offered but extended day care is available for $20 from 3-5 p.m.

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Chula Vista resident Michael Janning knew he would be looking at an increased electric bill upon entering the hot summer months. He also knew utility rates would continue to rise. After crunching the numbers, it became evident that there was a cheaper and cleaner alternative to paying high costs for electricity and the Janning residence decided to take advantage of the free energy that falls from the sky each day. The family installed a solar photovoltaic system with local firm, Sullivan Solar Power, to eliminate their electric bill.

“We decided to go Solar to eliminate a monthly payment, which we expected would only increase in the future, prior to retirement,” said homeowner Michael Janning.

The Janning residence went solar with Sullivan Solar Power, a locally headquartered firm with close ties to the local community. The firm has installed more solar power systems in San Diego than any other local company. And most recently, the company launched its “Sullivan Cash Reward,” a cash-back payment exclusively for San Diego local residents.

“Sullivan Solar Power holds a vision of transforming San Diego County into the nation’s strongest solar community. In order to fulfill this mission, Sullivan Solar Power will give back to the community by offering cash rewards in addition to the federal tax credit,” said Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power.

The Sullivan Cash Reward is an incentive greater than the California solar rebate amount offered in the SDG&E utility territory. San Diego property owners who sign up with Sullivan Solar Power will receive $0.20 per watt, up to $1,500 cash-back for going solar. Sullivan explained that residents can go solar for $0 upfront, save money every month on their electric bills, increase their property value – and get paid for doing so. This reward program, in addition to professionalism and industry expertise, set Sullivan apart from other solar companies.

“We solicited proposals from three Solar companies. We selected Sullivan Solar for the following reason. The Sullivan representative came very well prepared with several proposals tailored to our specific location, the orientation of our roof surfaces, and our average electrical usage. All the information was well organized in a binder which was ours to keep. He was also knowledgeable about the special installation requirements for a metal roof like ours, which was a major concern of mine. The representatives from the other companies by comparison had not done their homework. Their proposals were very general in nature and not specific to our house. When I asked about installing a system on our metal roof their response was we will figure it out, which was not what I wanted to hear,” said Janning.

Sullivan Solar Power is co-hosting a solar open house in Chula Vista on Saturday, May 18th from 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. This is a great opportunity for interest parties to have their questions about going solar answered by a local solar producer. To RSVP for the solar open house, or for additional information on Sullivan’s Cash Reward program, call 1-800-SULLIVAN or visit www.sullivansolarpower.com

Mark Archer

Since 2006, it’s been my pleasure to people realize their dreams in their homes and their communities. Whether its purchasing their dream home, moving up to a larger home, or investing in real estate my team can help.
I’ve assisted homeowners, including San Diego veterans and active and reserve military in San Diego since 2006. I am a frequent contributor to my community newsletter and sit as a Board member of our local Business Association.
DRE#01777656
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San Diego based sports training firm San Diego Gymnastics has joined the tenant roster at Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista.

It is the second site for the firm, which also has a location at Liberty Station in Point Loma. The Chula Vista location has class space for children and families, with a large spring floor and equipment including climbing ropes, weights, balance beams, vaulting table and uneven bars.

The business is on the east side of Otay Ranch Town Center, located at 2015 Birch Road near Interstate 805. The mall has nearly 100 stores and is among 125 retail properties owned by Chicago-based General Growth Properties.

The publicly traded real estate investment trust owns and operates centers totaling approximately 124 million square feet of leasable area.

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Builders continued to hire more workers in April, though employment among an age cohort important to household formation slipped, according to today’s jobs report, which showed more overall growth than expected.

Residential construction jobs are up 4.1 percent year over year, towering about the overall jobs growth rate of 1.6 percent, said Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko, citing data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today.

Total residential-construction jobs moved up from a seasonally adjusted 580,200 in March to 586,400 in April, according to the report. In April of last year, the sector supported 572,000 jobs, the report showed.

But that jobs growth lags compared to actual construction growth. Kolko chalks up the discrepancy to the fact that the number of jobs for every construction project is more than normal.

At the same time, today’s report also showed that employment among a cohort that is crucial to household formation, 25 to 34-year-olds, has slipped recently, dropping from 75.6 percent in December 2012 to 75.2 percent in April, Kolko said.

But Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan said that the report was positive overall and “better-than-expected.
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A San Diego court has preliminarily approved a class action settlement between wireless phone users and the City of Chula Vista that includes $8 million being made available for funding for rebates and refunds of the City’s telephone user’s tax and payment of litigation expenses and attorneys’ fees. The lawsuit, Carla Villa, et al. v. City of Chula Vista, was brought by two Chula Vista residents on behalf of Chula Vista taxpayers and was filed by the San Diego law offices of CaseyGerry and the Newport Beach offices of Capretz & Associates. The City of Chula Vista disagrees with the lawsuit’s claim that certain aspects of the tax are unlawful, but, because the issues are complex and continued litigation would be expensive, the City believes it is in the best interest of its citizens to settle the case.

The settlement makes cash rebates available to Chula Vista wireless phone users who paid taxes on their wireless phone bills from April 2010 through April 2013. And, once the court has finally approved the settlement, the tax rate will be reduced from 5% to 4.75%. The City will also clarify how its telephone user’s tax ordinance applies to wireless phone services.

Additional information about who is qualified to receive refunds and the claims process is available at www.ChulaVistaCellPhoneTaxSettlement.com.

All Chula Vista residents should receive claim forms in the mail soon. Anyone with a wireless phone service billing address in Chula Vista may be eligible to make a claim. Claim forms will also be available online and can be submitted electronically at: www.ChulaVistaCellPhoneTaxSettlement.com.

A valid claim must be filed to get payment. Eligible claimants may receive a larger cash payment by including copies of wireless phone bills or other documents. This is fully explained in the claim form and at the website. Claims must be filed no later than July 31, 2013.

Eligible taxpayers can choose one of three refund options:

Receive flat $35 rebate. Eligible taxpayers only need to fill out, sign and submit the claim form to receive $35 cash payment.

Receive $50 for each year of Telephone User’s Tax (“TUT”) paid — maximum three years, $150, over three yearly time periods: April 2010-2011, April 2011-2012 and April 2012-2013. Eligible taxpayers need to complete the claim form and submit one of the following as instructed on the claim form: For each yearly time period, submit a copy of a wireless phone service bill, or a copy of a wireless telephone plan or a copy of a cancelled check showing payment of the wireless phone service plan.

Receive an estimated full refund for the tax paid from April 2010 – April 2013. Eligible taxpayers need to complete the claim form and submit two wireless phone service bills or one bill and one other proof of payment for the period claimed as instructed on the claim.

For information, claim forms and detailed instructions on how to make a claim, go to www.ChulaVistaCellPhoneTaxSettlement.com or call (1-888-270-0735). Additional help is available at www.caseygerry.com, www.capretz.com and www.chulavistaca.gov.

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McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and Cuningham Group have completed the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center’s master plan, which calls for a five-phased expansion of the hospital campus over the next 20 years.

The first phase, scheduled for completion by fall 2015, would involve a new medical tower.

Phase 2 encompasses construction of the new east tower that will provide an additional 34 beds, expand surgery and dietary services, replace the receiving dock and build a new central cooling plant. This is slated for spring 2018.

Phase 3 would include finishing out levels four and five of the new tower and add 68 new beds by 2030.

The fourth and fifth phases would include upgrading the existing east tower podium, building a new west tower to replace the existing 139 beds in the old one, and decommissioning the old tower from acute care service by 2030.

The master planning process focused on seven main goals:

* define the key issues driving the need for expansion;

* identify all site locations suitable for the expansion;

*evaluate those locations for build ability and functional adjacencies;

* create test-to-fit floor plan layouts;

* establish the phasing approach;

* develop a realistic budget; and,

* build a phased-approach schedule and timeline.

The Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center acute care campus originally was developed in 1973 upon the donation of the 32-acre land parcel.

The east tower, which provided 139 inpatient beds, opened in 1979 and was augmented in 1989 with the Birch Patrick skilled nursing facility, which added 100 beds for skilled nursing and long-term care beds.

The campus was expanded in 1991 with the addition of the west tower, providing an additional 104 inpatient beds and expanding the hospital’s women’s health and emergency care services to South County residents.

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Any homebuyer on the market right now will tell you the crowd of buyers and multiple offers are creating a challenge.

Those in search of distressed homes owned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are not immune to this supply-and-demand situation. In fact, recently one HUD home in San Diego attracted 100 offers within 10 days.

“In this market, because it’s so competitive we’re seeing buyers just happy to get a house. They are being less selective on location and condition,” said Whissel, broker/owner of Whissel Realty.

But in its latest news report, RealtyTrac reported that an uptick in homes owned by HUD may create opportunities for patient buyers.

Experts project that over the next two years, as lenders steadily work through a backlog of foreclosures delayed by foreclosure-processing reviews, the supply of these HUD homes will increase significantly.

In the western part of Riverside County in California, HUD-owned home sales are increasing significantly.

“HUD sales have increased due to the hold back of bank-owned homes for robo-signing reviews, and, most recently, the Homeowner Bill of Rights,” said HUD local listing broker Nat Genis.

Genis added, “Inventory is there, just not being released during the banks/servicers review of the loan/mortgage documents.”

“In the case of HUD properties, HUD homes are back,” he continued. “FHA financing went away with the ‘creative’ financing of the 80/20 loans, and now with the increase of FHA financing, these government-backed loans guarantee that if the borrower defaults, HUD will pay off the mortgage, obtain the deed and re-sell the home.”

Even though they can be in poor condition, HUD homes are often appealing because of their discounted selling price.

In this highly competitive market, it’s important for buyers to understand the ins and outs of HUD-owned foreclosures, writes RealtyTrac, and the best practices for pursuing and making offers so they have the best chance of landing a HUD home at a good price.

As of February 28, 3012, HUD had 39,442 properties nationwide in its REO inventory. Of those, 20,536 had pending contracts on them, according to a source at HUD, while another 9,505 properties remained on the market.

For investors looking to focus on HUD homes, Tammy Phelps, executive director of the District Real Estate Investors Association in the D.C. metro area, says working with a HUD-approved broker is key.

“They have direct access to these homes, are educated and have the knowledge to navigate what could be a complex situation with arduous paperwork,” Phelps said. “They also have the time and ability to monitor the HUD website. If there is a specific property you are interested in then this is where your relationship with your agent is extremely valuable.”

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Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) is scheduled to celebrate the grand opening of one of its newest clinics during a ribbon cutting ceremony April 30.

Branch Health Clinic Eastlake is one of two Navy medical clinics in San Diego County that recently began treating patients.  The Eastlake location offers primary care, immunizations, pharmacy, and other health services to 4,800 eligible beneficiaries — including TRICARE Prime family members, military retirees and their relatives.

Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Eastlake is poised to continue the hospital’s legacy of providing top-notch care to our nation’s heroes and those who stand by them.

“I am truly honored and proud to introduce our patients to Naval Medical Center San Diego’s newest addition, Branch Health Clinic Eastlake. We are excited to expand the quality health care our families currently receive and provide them additional convenient options for their health care needs,” said Commander, NMCSD and Navy Medicine West, Rear Adm. C. Forrest Faison III. “Patients at the new Branch Health Clinic Eastlake will continue to receive world-class, patient-centered care through our Medical Home model of primary care services, providing consolidated services within one state-of-the-art location in the community where they live by a dedicated team of professionals.”

NBHC Eastlake is staffed by a patient and family-centered Medical Home Port team that delivers primary care, immunizations, pharmacy, phlebotomy, case management and health and wellness services to 4,800 eligible beneficiaries. Essentially a “one stop shop” designed to cater to patients’ varying medical needs, NBHC Eastlake is conveniently located to home, work and play and will assist in lightening the load on neighboring Branch Health Clinic Chula Vista, allowing for more personalized patient care, according to NMCSD’s Facilities Department Project Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Richard J. Taulli.

The clinic boasts 13 examination rooms in a 9,400-square-foot facility. Planning for the new clinic began in 2009; construction commenced in November 2012 and was completed in March 2013 with great success, according to Taulli.

NBHC Eastlake is located at 2300 Boswell Rd., Ste. 190, Chula Vista 91914. The clinic’s hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment or for additional information, please contact (619) 744-5355.

For more information on Naval Medical Center San Diego, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd, www.facebook.com/nmcsd, or www.twitter.com/NMC_SD.

For more news from Naval Medical Center San Diego, visit www.navy.mil/local/sd/.

For more about Navy clinic locations and services in the San Diego area, visit here.

Services
Pharmacy Hours
Weekdays: 8:00AM – 4:00PM

Weekends & Holidays: CLOSED

Pharmacy Refill Line
(619) 532-8400

Behavioral Health Consultant
Weekdays: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
(619) 744-5379

Case Manager
Weekdays: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
(619) 744-5379

To Make Appointments
Call Center: (619) 532-8225, option #2

Weekdays: 6:00AM – 7:00PM
Weekends: 8:00AM – 4:30PM

Walk-In Flu Vaccine
Wednesdays: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Flu Hotline
(619) 532-5358

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SeaWorld to open Chula Vista water park June 1

A new SeaWorld water park replacing the Knott’s Soak City is debuting in time for summer in Chula Vista.

In November, the owner of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment acquired Knott’s Soak City and planned for a massive transformation.
The park will be remodeled into “Aquatica”, a SeaWorld water park that includes sandy beaches, wild animals, and a lush relaxing landscape, similar to those in Orlando and San Antonio.

“We’ll have Caribbean flamingos, fresh water turtles, personal cabanas and shaded lounge seating. It’s kind of a south seas theme,” said Vice President of Aquatica David Cromwell.

The original rides from Soak City will stay in place, but be re-purposed and repainted.

SeaWorld plans to hold a job fair March 23 in Chula Vista for it’s June 1st opening.

No word yet on ticket prices.

Read more: http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/03/14/seaworld-water-park-coming-to-chula-vista/#ixzz2RtiIGjf4

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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends the bipartisan Senate sponsors of legislation to advance comprehensive immigration reform and today called on lawmakers to improve the guest worker provisions in the bill to address the significant role that foreign workers play in the housing industry and to help alleviate current labor challenges that are hampering the housing and economic recovery.

Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder and developer from Charlotte, N.C.,  urged Congress to implement a new market-based visa system that would allow more immigrants to legally enter the construction workforce each year.

“Despite our efforts to recruit and train American workers through the HBI Job Corps program and other programs, our industry faces a very real impediment to full recovery if work is delayed or even cancelled due to worker shortages,” said Judson. “A new, workable visa program would complement our skills training efforts within the nation’s borders, and fill the labor gaps needed to meet the nation’s housing needs.”

In a recent survey of NAHB’s membership, 46 percent of the builders surveyed experienced delays in completing projects on time, 15 percent had to turn down some projects and 9 percent lost or cancelled sales as a result of recent labor shortages.

Foreign-born workers have traditionally played a vibrant and important role in home building. Today, they account for 22 percent of the construction labor force, according to the Census Bureau. Moreover, trades with a high concentration of immigrant workers also tend to have more vacancies and labor shortages. There are currently 116,000 unfilled positions open in the construction sector – a post-recession high.

While the W Visa program that addresses a guest worker program for the low-skill sector within Senate bill S. 744 reflects a good-faith attempt on the part of lawmakers to address a serious concern, NAHB believes the program is unworkable for the residential construction industry.

“First and foremost, the program wrongly singles out the construction industry with a discriminating set of rules, including an arbitrary and meager cap that not only ignores but rejects the value of the housing industry to the nation’s GDP,” said Judson. “Our industry, which in normal times accounts for more than 17 percent of the nation’s total economic output, should be afforded the same opportunities as any other sector of the economy. Congress must reassess this critical flaw in the legislation.”

Judson also outlined other components of the W Visa program as areas of concern:

• The 8.5 percent unemployment trigger. Putting an unemployment trigger in the program ignores the simple fact that immigrant workers and native-born workers sometimes perform jobs that are independent. Moreover, with the current unemployment rate well below 8 percent, labor shortages in all facets of the industry – including framers, carpenters, bricklayers and weatherization workers – continue to undermine the housing recovery.
• Prevailing wages. Employers will already have to pay fees for self-registration and any positions needed. Further adding a complex prevailing wage scale to the program will deter private small business firms from taking advantage of it. Employees should be paid market rate, or actual wages.
• The inclusion of a commission in the W Visa program. The marketplace is best-suited to make wage and worker shortage determinations, not a new bureaucratic entity, said Judson. The most accurate way to measure whether immigrant workers are needed is for employers to try, and either succeed or fail, to hire U.S. workers.
• Complete portability. Under this provision, a registered employer faces the stark reality that a W Visa holder has the option to quit and work somewhere else beginning on the very first day of work. NAHB believes that it is only fair that employers have some assurances that after navigating a confusing and expensive process, the visa holder will actually have to show up and work for the employer who sponsored the worker. This concern is even more pronounced for the construction industry, considering the meager 15,000 visa cap.  Employers should receive a credit for losses incurred.

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