WHOOPING COUGH EPIDEMIC GROWS – HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE VACCINATION AND TIMELY DIAGNOSIS EPIDEMIA DE TOS FERINA AUMENTA MIENTRAS OFICIALES DE SALUD URGEN LA VACUNA El Grito de Independencia & Taco Cook-Off The City of El Centro is now accepting vendor and performance applications for “El Grito de Independencia & Taco Cook-Off” event scheduled for September 18, 2010 at Stark Field from 5pm-10pm in El Centro. This event will celebrate Mexico’s 200th independence anniversary and will include the competitive taco cook-off. To apply to be a vendor, contestant or performer visit www.cityofelcentro.org/specialevents or call 760-337-4555. El Centro City Council Meetings Move from Wednesdays to Tuesdays Beginning July 2010 June 10, 2010 El Centro, CA - The El Centro City Council meetings are currently held the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Effective July 2010, the City Council Meetings will now be held the first and third Tuesdays of the month to help alleviate scheduling conflicts with other agency meetings. For example: the Council meetings in July will take place on the 6th and 20th. The El Centro Planning Commission meetings will also be moved to the second Tuesday of the month to accommodate this new schedule. Disaster News Release Due to the earthquake on Sunday (4/4/2010) IVRMA has had numerous calls requesting disposal of damaged e-waste and hazardous waste materials. We have opened the HHW during the week to accept HHW items on request. Starting Thursday April 14, 2010 we will open the HHW in El Centro only, Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm, and then back to normal hours of operation on Saturday 8am to noon in El Centro and 8am to noon on Sunday in Brawley. We will continue this schedule until the residents of Imperial County no longer need the five day schedule to get their property in order. Any questions please contact IVRMA at 760 337 4537 For Information on the evacuation of residents displaced by the Water Tower on 8th & Vine, please click HERE. Para información a los residentes desplazados por la amenaza del derribo de la torre de agua en la esquina de las calles 8 y Vine, por favor oprima AQUI. As result of the recent earthquake you may have additional items for disposal. Please click HERE for information from CR&R. The City of El Centro, California has issued a “PROCLAMATION OF EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY” due to conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property that have arisen within the City, caused by earthquake, commencing on or about 3:40 p.m. on April 4, 2010. The proclamation further orders that for a period of thirty (30) days it is unlawful for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell any consumer food items or goods or services used for emergency clean up, emergency supplies, medical supplies, home heating oil, building materials, housing, transportation, freight and storage services, or gasoline or other motor fuels for a price of more than ten percent (10%) above the price charged. Please click HERE for further details. A HOTLINE has been put in place for donations: 760-482-4968 Join the City of El Centro and celebrate the El Centro Music Festival and Fireworks Show on April 10, 2010 from 5 to 10 PM at Stark Field in El Centro! This is a great event that everyone will enjoy while listening to the sounds of the Chicano All Stars (Santana Tribute Band), other live bands, paintball, food, fun and children’s activities – even a 110 foot giant fun slide! Fireworks start at approximately 9:55pm! For more information call 760-337-4555 or click HERE. New 442 Area Code Overlay. Starting October 24, 2009 all telephone calls made from the Imperial Valley’s 760 area code zone will have to include the area code as well as the seven-digit number. Click HERE for more. The City of El Centro Police Department was awarded $1,134,072 in Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant money through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funding. The grant will fund three police officer positions for three years including benefits. To date the City of El Centro has been awarded $3,924,725 in stimulus funds. Dead Vegetation is a Fire Hazard The City of El Centro’s Parks & Recreation Departments Art Class, led by Lourdes Guzman won three honorable mentions in this year’s “Art 4 Play” contest hosted by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). Please click HERE for more. Help us keep our city Drug Free Report illegal drug activity anonymously at (877) 754-2683. For Swine Influenza Fact Sheet, please click HERE. Property Tax Assesment press release (Home Owners, PLEASE READ) For a list of Cool Centers in Imperial Valley, please click HERE. Para la lista de Centros Fresscos del Valle Imperial, por favor oprima AQUI.