1000 FRIENDS OF FRESNO

4781 E. Gettysburg Ave, Fresno, CA 93726
Phone: (559) 291-2261 Fax: (559) 291-4991
http://www.1000friendsoffresno.org
E-mail: friends-of-fresno@juno.com
December 2009 

December 2009 Newsletter
Click above to download a pdf version.

Meeting the Challenges of the Future with
Citizens' Involvement

1000 FRIENDS OF FRESNO

4781 E. Gettysburg Ave, Fresno, CA 93726 (559) 291-2261 Fax (559) 291-4991

http://www.1000friendsoffresno.org E-mail: friends-of-fresno@juno.com

December 2009 

Meeting the Challenges of the Future with

Citizens Involvement

Dear Interested Citizen:

     We are continually reminded of the many volunteers who are able to make a difference in our communities and the great joy they receive for their efforts.  

    If all of us would put in similar efforts we could truly change our community and yes, our world. Giving a few hours of your time every week can make a difference. For those who cannot give the time, a monetary gift to a worthwhile organization will help. 

--Bob Dwyer



REMEMBERING MOTHER RICHARDSON
--by Bob Dwyer

Parolee (Mother) Richardson passed away on November 23, 2009, at the age of 95. As founder of Light Line United Mission, in the 1960’s, Mother Richardson spent over 40 years providing support of every kind to the less fortunate in southwest Fresno.

I knew Mother Richardson for about 15 years and assisted her with dinners for the needy and always a Christmas party for the children. Up until 2007, she took a very active role in these events. Her motto was ‘I’m a hopping and I’m not a stopping’.

She will be sorely missed.


HEAR THE MAYOR AT "STATE OF DOWNTOWN BREAKFAST"

On Tuesday, January 26, the Downtown Association and the city's Downtown and Community Revitalization Department are sponsoring a "State of Downtown Breakfast" with Mayor Swearengin. The venue will be The Grand @ 1401 Fulton on the top floor of what used to be called the Trade Center. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by phoning the Downtown Association at 490-9966. This will be an opportunity to hear the mayor and representatives of her new downtown revitalization department present an update on the ongoing effort to revitalize our downtown. Doors will open at 7:00 a.m. and the breakfast begins at 7:30.


EATON PLAZA TREES UPDATE

Last summer when city officials proposed some changes to the Eaton Plaza Master Plan, the City Council approved. But one of the changes, to remove the grove of camphor trees at the southwest corner of Fresno and N Streets, began to stir up resistance. The Master Plan had called for preserving the grove, but the city officials cited reasons for removing the trees: their roots were buckling nearby sidewalks and some were diseased. Letters to The Fresno Bee began to call for saving the trees. Tree Fresno engaged a certified arborist to examine the trees; he concluded that with proper care most of the camphor trees could be saved. City officials have now decided to keep the camphor grove.


BUSINESSES ON THE FULTON MALL

In our last newsletter we provided a list of dining places on the Fulton Mall & the surrounding downtown area. This time around, we are enclosing a list of Business’ on the Fulton Mall. Christmas will be here before you know it, shop the Fulton Mall.


DOWNTOWN PBID
      -Courtesy of Jan Minami-

There is a growing coalition of business owners, property owners and others who support the formation of a Property-based Business Improvement District in Downtown Fresno (PBID). A PBID allows for a self-imposed and self-governed property assessment that will raise funds for economic and environmental enhancement programs. PBID services enhance, but do not replace, existing City of Fresno services.

PBIDs have successfully improved downtowns throughout California and the country by improving public safety, marketing and image, while supporting economic development. This has resulted in higher sales, occupancies and property values in more than 1,000 cities in North America. PBIDs are contributing to the vitality of Downtown districts in Pasadena, Los Angels, San Diego, Long Beach, San Jose, Stockton, Sacramento and Visalia.

The Downtown Fresno PBID is an investment that will visibly improve Downtown Fresno in the following ways:

  • Enhance customer, employee and visitor perceptions of Downtown.
  • Protect and enhance property values, sales and occupancies as a critical ingredient in strengthening the economic foundation of our Downtown
  • Strengthen private sector control and accountability to carry out enhanced services through a PBID board consisting of business and property owners.
  • Strengthen Downtown’s regional competitiveness by enhancing its overall image and marketability.
  • Improve Downtown’s appearance and commercial district identity by working toward implementing physical improvements such as banners, public art and proper signage.

A PBID is formed only after property owners, representing a majority of the assessed square footage in the district, submit petitions to the Fresno City Council.



GUIDE TO HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
FULTON MALL, FRESNO CALIFORNIA
---Prepared by the Preservation Committee of the
    Fresno City and County Historical Society


Before the town of Fresno Station was established, wild elk, antelope and sheep roamed the area that would become downtown. After the town was founded in 1872, the first commercial district was located along H Street and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. In 1877, J Street (now Fulton) was a dirt road lined with woodframed structures. Calvin Jones built a flour mill and boarding house on J near Tulare Street. His wife kept a herd of cows in a corral behind the mill. They often grazed on open land nearby. The mill site is now occupied by the Mason building (1044 Fulton Mall).

As the town grew, business blocks were built and the commercial district moved east to J and K streets (Fulton and Van Ness). In 1884, the Grand Central Hotel at J and Mariposa was purchased by the flamboyant financier Fulton G. Berry. After his death, his positive impact on the community led the City Fathers to change the name of J Street to Fulton in his honor. As the new century progressed into the 1920s and 30s, Fulton was truly the main street of Fresno. High-rise buildings dotted its length.

As the city moved north, a plan to revitalize the downtown culminated in tearing out the sidewalks and pavement of Fulton Street to create a pedestrian mall. This project was one of the first of its kind in the country and was a bold and creative enterprise that gained national recognition. The Fulton Mall was dedicated on September 1, 1964.

Today, the Fulton Mall contains many historic buildings with representative examples of architectural styles illustrating a variety of time periods. Most of these buildings are also part of the history of pioneer Fresno families. (historicfresno.org/tours/fulton.htm).

On the Historic Fresno web site, you can go online & tour of our Fulton Mall and view the Historic buildings along with biographies of architects, designers & builders.

1. Pantages Theatre

2. San Joaquin Light & Power Company

3. Hotel Sierra/Bank of America

4. Hotel Fresno

5. Brix Building

6. Cory Building

7. Mattei Building

8. J. J. Newberry's Department Store

9. Brix Estate Building

10. Helm Building

11. Pacific Southwest Building

12. Mason Building

13. Zukor's

14. Bank of Italy Building

15. T. W. Patterson Building

16. Radin-Kamp Department Store

17. Gottschalk's Department Store

18. Californian Hotel



FRESNO CITY'S WATER METER PROGRAM
                                                        ( www.fresnowater.org)

City of Fresno held a public hearing for the proposed residential metered water rates on November 5, 2009.

By the year 2013, by mandate of state and federal law, all residential customers will be required to have a water meter and will be charged a metered rate for their water consumption. Most likely if you are already conserving water you will not see much of a change. But if you tend to waste water (daily routine) or not fix leaks, you may see an increase in your water bill.
According to the City of Fresno web site, "There are several steps you can take to decrease your water usage. Since nearly 70% of water used annually by a household is for outside irrigation, using drought tolerant plants can be a great way to save water. For information about what you can do to save water in your yard, please contact our FREE landscape conservation and irrigation leak detection services which are available for our water customers at (559) 621-5480. Another significant cause of high water use is leaks in the home. These leaks are often from a broken toilet flapper or a leaking faucet. The City of Fresno Water Division can come to your home and conduct a FREE leak inspection to help you conserve water now, and save money in the future. Please call to schedule your FREE leak survey or landscape review at (559) 621-5480."


Fresno County Blood Drives
The Central California Blood Center provides a valuable service to the community by collecting blood for Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, and Tulare Counties. Blood drives are held throughout Fresno County. You can help with this vital effort by giving blood during the month of December. Call 224-2900 for more information.

Electronic Waste Recycling Event
Fresno Fairgrounds, Kings Canyon entrance
December 12, 2009 , 8:00am to 2:00pm
Recycle your broken or unbroken electronic waste. No limit. Free. 559-650-FAIR

Coats 4 Corks & Corkeys
October 26, 2009 through December 12, 2009
Milla Vineyards are collecting coats for adults and animals of all sizes. Coats will be laundered by Janz Cleaners and then distributed to people that do without so their children can have. Animal coats are going to SPCA and ARF. Call 277-1656 or 246-5893 www.MillaVineyards.com lists all drop off locations.


CHECK BEFORE YOU BURN

Central Valley wood-burning residents face restrictions ahead. Residents of Fresno, Bakersfield and Modesto will need to check whether they can burn wood or other solid fuel November through February. Each day, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, which spans eight counties, issues a forecast either advising residents that "wood burning is prohibited" or asking them to "please burn cleanly."

When the forecast prohibits wood burning, there are only two exceptions: if the residence does not have access to a natural gas service or if burning solid fuel is the sole source of heat for the residence
Clean-burning Tips

  • Ensure firewood is clean, seasoned and dry before burning it. Unseasoned wood smolders and creates additional emissions.
  • Never burn trash, magazines, newspapers, plastics or other materials not designed to burn in fireplaces or stoves. Doing so is illegal and hazardous.
  • Replace old solid fuel-burning equipment with cleaner EPA Phase II-certified or pellet-fueled devices. Or install natural gas or propane devices, which are not subject to Air District wood-burning rules.
  • For an ambience fire in an open fireplace, a manufactured firelog may be a cleaner alternative to wood.

You can also find out the daily wood-burning status by calling SMOG-INFO line at 1-800-766-4463, or go to valleyair.org/aqinfo/WoodBurnPage.htm.


List of Business on the Fulton Mall

& Surrounding Downtown Area

(The following is a list from Downtown Association of Fresno’s web site)

Acapulco Jewelers
1127 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Ace Cellular Paging Service
902 Fulton Mall #F-3 Fresno CA 93721
All 4 U
1130 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
American Vintage Thrift
727 Van Ness Ave, Fresno, CA 93721
Amigos Jewelry
902 Fulton Mall M-26 Fresno CA 93721
Artesanias Azteca
860 Fulton Mall, Fresno CA 93721
Artesanias Y Novedades
860 Fulton Mall, Fresno CA 93721
Asmar Records
860 Fulton Mall, Fresno CA 93721
B&M Grace Inc
902 Fulton Mall  Fresno CA 93721
Baskin Auto Upholstery
729 Broadway Fresno CA 93721
Beauty Town
917 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Best Nails
1236 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Big 3D
1419 M St. Fresno CA 93721
Botanica Del SoL
902 Fulton Mall M-4 Fresno CA 93721
Botanica San Judas #1
1123 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Botanica San Judas #2
1031 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Byong Stonger
860 Fulton Mall #B-3 Fresno CA 93721
California Pants
1105 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Celebrations Imports
1017 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA
Clothes Mart
927 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Custom Engraving
860 Fulton Mall #D-9 Fresno CA 93721
Discoteca Puro Mexico
860 Fulton Mall #F-11 Fresno CA 93721
Discoteca Sinaloense / Beauty Salon
1133 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Downtown Digital Documents
1254 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Eden 1 Hour Photo
860 Fulton Mall A-2 Fresno CA 93721
El Centenario Jewelry
902 Fulton Mall M17 Fresno CA 93721
Emerald Thrift Store
717 Van Ness Fresno CA 93721
Estevans Bridal
1018 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Fallas – Paredes
1136 Fulton Mall, Fresno CA 93721
Family Town
926 Fulton Fresno CA 93721
Fashion Flair
1114 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Federal Jewelry & Loan Inc
1902 Tulare Fresno CA 93721
Fulton Bargain
887 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Fulton Kebob
1230 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Fulton Mini Mart
1137 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Galeria Mexico
932 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Hacienda Grande Jewelers
1048 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Herrera’s Jewelers
1119 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Jai’s Sports Wear
1040 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Jalisco Jewelers
1014 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Jon Jon’s
1432 H St. Fresno CA 93721
Julie Ann Watches & Beauty
860 Fulton Mall #F5-7 Fresno CA 93721
K S Jewelry
860 Fulton Mall #B8 Fresno CA 93721
K Sportswear
860 Fulton #F-18 Fresno CA 93721
Kitty Town
860 Fulton Mall A-17 Fresno CA 93721
Kustum Airbrush
902 Fulton Mall M10 Fresno CA 93721
La Casa De Pisos
933 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA 93721
Lee’s Shoes
860 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Lil Oasis
1024 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Longs Drug Store #006
1302 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA 93721
Luftenburg’s Bridal Boutique
909 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
M & C Family Fashion
1141 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Majestic Jewelry & Loan
1924 Tulare Fresno CA 93721
Mayo’s Toys Gift Snack & More
1242 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Mecca Billiard Supply
732 Fulton St Fresno CA 93721
Nb Perfumes
860 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Ok Jewelry
902 Fulton Mall C-16 Fresno CA 93721
Our Place
2017 Mariposa St. Fresno CA 93721
Passions
2027 Tulare St. Fresno CA 93721
Paules Flowers & Gifts
 1133 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Proctor’s Jewelers Fresno Inc
1201 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
R Electronics
1039 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Ritmo Latino
1049 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA 93721
Sintia’s Jewelry
1101 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Soft Touch
860 Fulton Mall G9 Fresno CA 93721
Sonia Jewelry
1045 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Sound Factory
902 Fulton Mall M23 Fresno CA 93721
State Jewelry & Loan Co
1249 Van Ness Fresno CA 93721
Suzy's Beauty Supply
1024 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
The Best Luggage Shop
860 Fulton Mall D-14 Fresno CA 93721
The Pep Boys Of CA #624
716 Broadway St Fresno CA 93721
The Yogurt Barn
2019 Mariposa Mall Fresno CA 93721
Tiffany Fashion
1922 Tualre St Fresno CA 93721
Tom’s Clothes
860 Fulton Mall St D-5 Fresno CA 93721
Total Fashion
860 Fulton Mall C4 Fresno CA 93721
Tres Hermanos Inc
966 Fulton Mall, Fresno, CA
Unlimited Wireless
1036 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Warner Dental Supply Inc
2000 Fresno St. 200 Fresno CA 93721
Won Fashion
1050 Fulton Mall Fresno CA 93721
Zapateria Mexico
1042 Fulton St Fresno CA 93721



YES, I want to help improve our quality of life in Fresno County.

Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution:

o $10  o $50  o $200  o $1000

o $25      o $100     o $500      o Other

Name:_____________________________________ Phone: (Day)__________________________
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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
1000 Friends of Fresno is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.

All donations are fully tax-deductible.

Please send this form with your check or money order to: 1000 Friends of Fresno, 4781 E. Gettysburg Ave., Fresno, CA 93726, (559) 291-2261, Fax (559) 291-4991

THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY:

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HELPING US INCREASE OUR MEMBERSHIP, HELPS OUR COMMUNITY.

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